TRAIL OF CHEQUES

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1011, 30 June 1930, Page 10

TRAIL OF CHEQUES

FROM WANGANUI TO WELLINGTON TWO YEAR SENTENCE j Already serving a term of six j months’ imprisonment, having been : convicted on seven charges of issuing valueless cheques. Walter Joseph Bunting appeared in the Police Court j again this morning. There were four . charges relating to offences in Waj nganui, Marton and Petone, and accused was sentenced to six months' imprisonment, to be followed by IS months’ reformative detention. Bunting, a stock agent, aged 28. was c harged with obtaining from Sarah j Vagioni, at Wanganui, £lO on May ! 3 and £5 on May 5. by means of valueless cheques. There was a third • charge of obtaining £lO from Cecil S Purcell at Petone on May 7 and a motor-car valued at £6O from Charles ! Albert Rofe at Marton on May 5, both ; by means of valueless cheques. Mr. Smyth appeared for accused and adj mitted all the offences except that relating to the car, on which, counsel I urged. Bunting had paid a deposit, j According to Chief-Detective Hammond. accused bad been working at liunterville, whence he had come from ihe North. He got hold of a clieque- | book and travelled South, passing two • valueless cheques at Wanganui. At Marton he gained possession of a car : and motored to Petone, where he obtained more money. The car had been recovered. “Bunting is at present serving a sentence of a term of six months as your Worship convicted him on seven similar charges a month ago,” added the chief-detective. ‘‘He | had been drinking heavily.” j Mr. Smyth reminded the magistrate j that Bunting had given himself up to the police. He was foolish not to have mentioned the episodes at Wanganui. Marton and Petone at the same time. The man had one pre- : vious conviction in connection with S cattle-stealing but that was more of a commercial transaction. Accused had then been sentenced to IS months’ reformative detention, which was probably the reason why the court did not give him the benefit of probation when he came up for sentence on the seven charges.