BLUFF THAT FAILED

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 179, 19 October 1927, Page 9

BLUFF THAT FAILED

PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS

TWELVE MONTHS’ FOR McGOVERN

Bluff may be a great asset if tried in the right quarters, but it does not pay to try and bluff the police, as Joseph McGovern found to his cost to-day. McGovern appeared before Mr. Justice Stringer in the Supreme CoLirt on Monday for sentence on 17 charges of forgery and uttering. It was then that he strenuously denied having been previously convicted, and said he had not been in the country at the time. His denial was convincing enough to cause his Honour to adjourn the case for inquiries so that the prisoner would be fairly treated. When McGovern came before his Honour this morning, Mr. Patterson, for the Crown, said the prisoner had admitted two previous convictions. He had been, convicted and sentenced to three months' imprisonment for false pretences at Palmerston North, and later had served a month for assault at Putaruru. In the present case he had stolen a cheque book and had purchased a stone-crusher from a city firm, giving a cheque for £7OO in full payment. He returned the next day, having established his credit, and cashed three more cheques. “You now admit these convictions,” said his Honour, “and it was a senseless thing to deny them. You will go to gaol for twelve months. “I have often said that people give credit in a reckless fashion,” concluded his Honour.