A MAN WITH A CHEQUE BOOK

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 148, 13 June 1908, Page 6

A MAN WITH A CHEQUE BOOK

COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE. Before. Mr. 11. ~S. Fitzherbeyt, S.M., yesterday morning Harry Willis, alias Williams', aIMM Withers, a young man, was charged with obtaining by means of false pretences £5 10s in money and goods to the value of £2 Is from ll''v juniin Howard Nicholls (Inglewood); .£3 'ids (id in cash and goods valued at SI 3s from .Tohn William Robb (inglewood) ; Is in cash, and a gold ring valued at £1 18s Cd from Charles Bishop Martin (Inglewood); £3 15s 2d in cash and good valued at £0 4s 10s from Arthur Ilosford Herbert (New Plymouth); ' £3 12s in cash and goods valued at £1 7s (id from Richard Aroa (New Plymouth); £1 10s Od in cash and goods to the value of £3 10s Od from H. G, Carman (Eltham). Sargeant Haddrell conducted the prosecution. He stated that accused had opened an account with the Bank of Australasia, Wellington, placing £8 t'i his credit. Subsequently he issued i cheques to the amount of about £IOO, pureiiasing certain goods, and obtaining money in change. In several cases, the goods were never taken away. There were a large number of cases against accused, but only six cases were being gone on with. lUcliard Aroa, (grocer, Brougham street, gave evidence tliat accused purchased a tea-set from him on Saturday evening, 23rd May. He tendered a cheque for £5 in payment, witness returning £3 12s in change. The cheque was subseqcntly returned. Accused had told witness that he intended opening a barber's business in town.

Arthur Hosford Herbert reepgnised accused, who came to his shop on May 18, stating he wanted to buy some goods for a barber's shop and billiard room. 'He purchased some green baize for which he alleged he knew the size ot the door he wished to cover; a roller and towelling which was made up into rollers; brushes and combs suitable for barbers' use; perfumes which lie wished to display in his business; art muslin for draping, etc., to the value of £G 43 10s. Accused tendered a cheque forJCJO in payment, made out in witness' presence, and £3 15s 2d was returned in cash as change. Accused had never called for the goods. The cheque was returned to witness marked "N.S.F."

John William Bobb, draper, Inglewood, stated that on Kith May accuse.! purchased from him an umbrella at 14s (id, and suit of pyjamas at 8s Od. Accused said lie had just come up from Str.itford, where he had purchased .Jensen's haiidrcssing business. Aioutscd iniade, out a cheque for .to in payment of tlu goods, and was given £3 10s (id in change. Charles Bishop Martin, jeweller, Inglcwood, recognised accused, who called at the shop on Saturday, Kith May, and purchased a ring at 38s"(id. Accused tendered a cheque for £2 in payment and received Is in change, witness deducting (id exchange. The cheque was returned ''N.S.F." from the Bank. John Robert Jensen, tobacconist and hairdresser, Stratford, gaye evidence that he had not disposed of his business to anybody, and did not know accused ni all. An agent had made, enquiries of witness on behalf of accused regarding the. purchase of the business. To accused, witness said he gave vhs agent who came to him particulars of j the, busin#ps, with power to sell at a. I price. Bertram Lough, in the employ of the Moa Farmers' Co., Inglcwood," remembered accused visiting the establishment on the morning of Monday, 18th May., when he made purchases of some window blinds and a fur boa. Accused told witness he had also purchased some goods from the ironmongery department, amounting to £2 Is, and 'he made -,n a cheque for £8 in payment. Witness took the cheque to the manager, who saw accused, and changed the cheque. At accused's request, witness paid the. ironmongery department, but forgot to charge the goods sold by himself, and tendered accused fo.lils in payment. Accused took the fur away with him,' but never called for the rest of th» goods. B. H. Nicholls, manager of the Moa Fanners' Union, gave corroborative evidence. Accused told him, when questioned regarding his bona fides, that he was going to start business in the neighborhood, and exhibited the butt of a cheque for £ls which accused said lie hail paid to Mr Wiulicld for goods. Witness then changed the cheque, which was subsequently returned by the Bank. 11. G-. Carman, bookseller, Eltham, said accused called at his shop on th? afternoon of Slay 12, and purchased a phonograph valued at £3 and records to the value of 10s Od. Accused wrote

out a cheque for £5 in payment, witness giving £1 Os lid change. TUe goods had not linen taken away. Accused culled at the shop again on the 14th ror another 10s Oil worth of records, tendering cash, lie did not take them away, ordering them to. l>e packed with the others. On the following afternoon accused called to take the package nwiy, but witness showed him a note from t"ic Bank stating the cheque was dishonored. Accused said he could not understand it, took a hook from his pocket, and looked at it, and said there ought to be £SO to his credit. lie explained, that there were No. 1 and No. 2 accounts, and that he operated on one anl iiist brother on the other, and that his brother must have drawn on his (accused's) account without his knowledge. He said ho would wire away to see what was wrong, and called later to say lie was waiting for an answer. Witness did not see accused again. Oswald Kesteven Tenncnt, clerk in the Bank of Australasia, Wellington, gave evidence regarding refusal of payment of cheques by the Bank, there not being sullicicnt funds. "11. Wills" had au account with the Bank, the account being opened by letter, with a promissory note for 8 guineas for collection on April 25. A statement of the account was produced, showing a credit balance of 5s (id. Seventeen cheque* amounting to £127 14s 3d had been presented ill the account, lire cheques amounting l<. £8 2s (id having been paid. Detective Boddani gave evidence respecting the arrested of accused at New Plymouth on 30th May, on warrant. Ac. cuscd made no reply to the accusations. Later, in company with his solicitor, he called at witness' ollice and stated ha wished to plead guilty to all the charges. On June !)th witness received a letter from accused from New Plymouth gaol, stating be acknowledged the charges against him, except thaU.e did not receive the goods mentioned in tile charges. Accused pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court at New Plymouth for sentence.