FALSE PRETENCES

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 228, 19 May 1932, Page 5

FALSE PRETENCES

(Press Assn.—

SEVENTE EN CHARGES WELLINGTON ACCOUNTANT CASHES VALUELESS CHEQUES " TOURED COUNTRY WETH BOOK

-By Telegjaph — Copyrlght).

HAMILTON, Wednesday. • Seventeen charges of false pretences, involving the issuing of valueless cheques to tbe extent of £75, at Hamilton," Wanganui, Castlecliff, Ti'rau, Palmei^ton North, Foxtoji, Featherston, Paekakariki, between February "27 and May _7,_ were preferred against George Cotterill (29) accountant, of Wellington, _ when he appeared before Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., in the Hamilton Magistrate's Court this morning. Accused, who pleaded guilty to all charges, was sentenced to two years' reformative detention on each 'charge, the periods to run concurrently. The facts relating to the charges were outlined by Senior-Sergeant Sweeney, who explained that accused had been travelling the country with a hook of his own production, "Farm Records and Income Tax Simplifier." He opened an account with the National Bank of New Zealand at Courtenay Place, Wellington, with £12. A cheque-Hook was issued to him. Accused soon exhausted his account and was told by an official of the bank that there was no money in his account. Notwithstanding this he issued cheques in various places. After his feupply of cheque forms became exhausted he acquired more from another source. Accused was arrested at Okoroire by the Putaruru police. Prcvious Conviction The Senior-Sergeant explained that accused had issued cheques to the total value of £155 No complairits were received in respect of cheques totalling £80. Accused had been before the Court previously at Wanganui for false pretences. Accused had nothing to say. His Worship in commenting that accused had had leniency extended to him previously, remarked that accused had broken his probation within three months, and eight months* later he was before the Court again for the same offence. He had been sentenced to a year's reformative dete'n- 1 tion and was no sooner out than he was indulging in tbe same crime.