MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 July 1917, Page 6

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

ALLEGED VALUELESS CHEQUES. Bfeore Mr. A. Crooke, S.M., yesterday, Edward Howe Shore, 31 (for whom Mr. A. If. Johnstone appeared), was charged with obtaining money by false pretences, viz., £4 10s Od and £3 19s Gd by valueless cheques, from Charles Arthur Harrison. Sub-Inspector Mcllvenev prosecuted. C. A. Harrison, late licensee of the Grosvcnor Hotel, New Plymouth, said accused and a young woman came to the hotel and booked a room in the name of Mr. and Mrs. Shaw. Accused came into the office and asked witness to cash a cheque for £5, drawn by himself (cheque produced). Being a stranger, witness was not too sure, but accused assured him that he was working on commission for a Palmerston firm, which satisfied witness, and lie gave accused £4 19s Cd change. The cheque was subsequently returned dishonored. Accused and the lady left on May 24. Before leaving, accused enquired for his account ( £4), and tendered a cheque for £B, which was post-dated. Witness drew his attention to the date, and this was altered and initialled, (cheque produced). Witness gave him £3 19s Gd in change. Accused made no request to hold the cheque over. This cheque also was dishonored, and later witness communicated with the police. To Mr. Johnstone: I am positive the second cheque, was post dated. Eugene Albert Campbell, bank manager at Rongotea, said accused had an ' account at the bank on two occasions. The first on 14th March, which was closed on March 27; the second on April 13, with a credit of £99 17s fid, since which date there had been no other lodgment. He remembered "accused caliing on April 21, when he informed liim that he had a credit of £7O. Accused was going to draw a cheque for the amount,' but as it was after banking hours (12.15 on a Saturday), witness stopped him. The Sub-Inspector: What cheques drawn before April 21 have since been presented. —A total of £lOl 10s made up of cheques and bills. Continuing, witness said that some time before the 24th of April, the bank had received a telegraphic, communication purporting to have come from Shore, stopping a cheque for £OO. On May 11 accused was informed that there were several cheques outstanding, but be. said lie expected more money to come in. The outstanding cheques and bills then were £193.

The Sub-Inspector: Since April 21st (when accused was informed' that he bad £7O in the bank) what amount had be drawn by way of cheques and bills. dishonored, as there were no funds to accused's credit. The amount now standing to his credit was £1 4s. The total amount of the bills and cheques drawn was £448 17s Od, which left £350 unprovided for. The cheques had some from Palmerston, Wellington, Feilding, Auckland and New Plymouth. The Sub-Inspector: You know the accused. What was his means of locomotion round the country. —I have seen him driving a motor our. Mr. Johnstone: Could you give me the

amounts of cheques and in whose fa;vor they were, drawn between May 11 and April .21—Yes; Pease and Co., £6O; Eileen Muir, £2O; Watt Motor Company, £3; E. H. Shaw, £5, £B, £5, £2. £lO 10s, £B, Jas. Bell £O, Sutherland and Rankine. £4; Pease, £25: J Smith, £5; II J. Woedfield, £1 ss; bearer, £5; W. 11. Shore, £5; Mrs. E. Shore, £4; bearer, £3, £2 and £5; Eileen Shore, £1 10s. Bills were: Due May 1, Nonpareil Co., £3O is Od; June 1, £SO 15s; July 1, £sl 4s 2d. This closed the case for the prosecution. When asked how to plead, accused said he had nothing to say, and pleaded not guilt v. He was remanded to the sittings of the Supreme Court at New Plymouth on August 20. Bail was fixed at £75 and two sureties of £35 each.