EASY MONEY

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 271, 6 February 1928, Page 1

EASY MONEY

LARGE CHEQUE CASHED BY YOUNG MAN TWO REMARKABLE CASES The extraordinary ease with large or small, continue to be cashed, was again commented on by Mr. Justice Reed at the Supreme Court this morning. Jn one case a young man of 22 got £2l worth of goods and £79 cash with a valueless cheque, and in another a firm actually gave a man a blank cheque on their own special form, by which he raised £9 18s 6d. Going about the acquisition of his tools in the wrong way caused the ap pearance of Maurice Chapman at Court. Chapman, who was engaged to an Auckland girl, forged a cheque in the mother’s name, bought goods worth £2l, got £79 change and booked his passage for Sydney. “It is extraordinary to me how a man like this can present a cheque for £IOO and get it cashed,” remarkted Mr. Justice Reed. Mr. A. C. A. Sexton, who represented prisoner, said prisoner did not seem to realise his wrong-doing. He had regarded the forgery as forcing a loan by means of which he intended to set up a business and return to marry the daughter. His Honour said it seemed to be a case of getting the money and clearing out. The sentence would be hard labour for a year. The other case came from Hamilton. John Walker secured a blank cheque form specially made for W. Dagnall and Co., and with this he secured £9 18s Gd by forgery. His Honour said: “One can understand a person giving another an ordinary blank cheque form, but to give away a cheque with the firm's name on it is absurd. I do not know that the person foolish enough to cash the cheque would not have an action for damages against the firm concerned.” Walker stated that he had been out of work for nine months. His Honour decided to admit him to probation for two years, the money to be paid back, and a prohibition order to be taken out.