UNFAVOURABLE REPORT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 838, 5 December 1929, Page 10

UNFAVOURABLE REPORT

BOGUS CHEQUE RESULTS IN GAOL

PROBATION USELESS Remarking that lie must abide by the recommendations of probation officers, however strong a plea counsel advanced for leniency, Mr. F. K. Hunt S.M., sentenced Earl John Conrad Craven to three months’ imprisonment at the Police Court this morning on a charge of false pretences. Craven, a salesman aged 24, appeared for sentence on a charge of obtaining £3 from Frederick Styles on October 15 by means of a valueless cheque. Mr. Smyth asked for probation. Counsel was aware of the unfavourable report furnished by the Wellington probation officer but held that it was not a cose for gaol. It has been said that he had issued several bogus cheques but they had been met and the trouble had arisen over a misunderstanding. Accused had understood that the firm employing him in Wellington had been paying what money was due to him into the bank but they had not done so. There was no question of any attempt at evasion and accused as Staff-Captain Holmes of the Salvation Army had said, came from a very good family in Palmerston North.

The magistrate read the report from the Wellington probation officer which stated that no further leniency could be recommended. Accused was untrustworthy. It was wasting time to give him a further term of probation. “I must support the probation officers,” said the magistrate. “Men must learn ‘ they must strictly obey the instructions of officers when they are on probation. Accused knew the cheques would not be met all right.” Adding that he would halve the sentence he had originally intended to impose. the magistrate sentenced Craven to three months’ imprisonment.