“COULD NOT REMEMBER”

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 2, 24 March 1927, Page 9

“COULD NOT REMEMBER”

EFFECT OF WHISKY CHEQUE FORGERIES Whisky affects people in a variety of ways. It makes some want to fight, others merely amorous, and others irrepressibly cheerful. It made Roy Bateup forget everything he did while under its influence—so he told the magistrate in the Police Court this morning. He had no recollection of having filled in and signed two cheques, one for £3O and another for £4O, and having cashed them. When he was wanted to explain why both cheques were returned from the bank marked “Signature Forged” he could not be found. Subsequent enquiries revealed the fact that he had gone to Fiji. He was deported from there, and when he was found trying to get ashore at Auckland unobserved and arrested, he told the police that he had no recollection of going aboard the ship bound for the tropics, in the first place. “I’m not altogether impressed by your story that you knew nothing about the matter,” observed Mr. McKean. as he committed Bateup, who pleaded guilty to the two cheque charges, to the .Supreme Court for sentence.

The accused also owned up to breaking the terms of his probation—a term of four years which was imposed for theft, one of the conditions being that ho should make restitution of £B2. So far he has only paid £25.

Sentence was deferred, however, until the Supreme Court has decided what was to be done with him.