GETTING MONEY EASILY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 5, 30 June 1911, Page 8

GETTING MONEY EASILY

BUT A RISKY GAME. In the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, before Mr. 11. S. l'itzherbert, S.M., a young man named J. Lindon Turnbull, alias Lionel John MuJva, wag charged with four charges of obtaining money from Walter Little by means of false pretences, namely, by valueless cheques, at Sew Plymouth on Aprii 24 last.

Srgeant Dart prosecuted. Accused was not represented by counsel. Walter Little, licensee oi the Imperial Hotel, New Plymouth, deposed that on April 21 accused came to tie hotel and stayed for the night. On the following day ho went with accused to Opunake, (by motor-car, and returned on the morning of the 23rd. On returning to the hotel accused asked witness for a blank cheque, saying that he had an account in Auckland and his book had run out. From his book witness gave accused cheque No. 08424 on the National Bank of New Zealand (cheque produced and identified). Accused took the cheque away, but brought it back a few minutes later, (tiled in for £5, payable to "J. Mouat," and asked witness to cash it. It was endorsed "J. Mouat" on the back. Witness cashed the cheque, hut did not compare the endorsement with the writing in the body of the cheque. He cashed the cheque in the honest belief that it was good, and that accused was a respectable person. Later on accused asked for three more blank cheques, which witness gave him. They were numbered respectively 08402, 08403, and 08404 (cheques produced and identified). Later on accused brought back No. 684C4, filled in for £3 and made payable to witness. This one witness cashed. Later still accused brought another, also made out for £3, and witness cashed this too. The remaining one, No. 68403, filled in for £5, was passed through the cash register, but witness did not know who cashed it. The cash balance showed that it had been cashed. All the cheques were signed "J. Lindon Turnbull," which accused told witness was his name. Two of the cheques were paid into witness' account, and in a few days were returned marked 'No account!" For that reason witness did not present the other two cheques. On the morning of April 20 accused left the hotel to catch the morning express train, saying that he was going to Eltham, and would return in the .evening. Accused did not return. On the next day witness received a letter (produced) signed "J. Lindon Turnbull," saying that he would return on the 28th, but witness did not see him again until this morning. Detective James Powell, of Auckland, stated that he arrested accused on June 14, in Auckland, on one of the present charges. Accused did not reply to the charge at that time, but witness subsequently, on the 10th, inervicwed him about another matter, that of issuing a valueless cheque for £3 to LitOe. Accused then replied that he had no banking account in any part of New Zealand.

Accused pleaded not guilty and .reserved his defence, and was committed for trial at the next sittings of thb' Supreme Court at New Plymouth. He asked for bail.

Sergeant Dart pointed out that accused was already awaiting trial in Auckland on four charges there, as well as the four charges in this case, and therefore any bail should be substantial.

Accused was allowed bail, in two sureties of £25 each and his own recognisance of £25.

He was also remanded to appear at Eltham on July 5 to answer a charge of obtaining goods and money of the total value of £ll 5s from Ernest dare, tailor, of Eltham, by means of false pretences, to wit, by a valueless cheque.