FRAUD, FORGERY AND THEFTS

Taranaki Daily News, 30 August 1921, Page 5

FRAUD, FORGERY AND THEFTS

AN AUCKLAND BATCH OF CASES. By Telegraph—Press Association Auckland, Last Night. An extensive plan of deception was revealed at the Police Court to-flay, when David William Carter admitted sixteen charges of obtaining money and goods of a total value of over £162 by false pretences. Accused said he was working outside for the Technical College, Wellington, until May last, when illness absorbed all his savings. Coming to Auckland, he visited the Helensville district, posing as a post and telegraph officer, obtaining goods chargeable to the department. Then he went to St. Helier’s as a harbor board official, tendering valueless cheques for launch hire, and obtaining the loan of a horse, saddle and bridle, which he sold. Other valueless cheques were tendered to various people in the city. Accused was committed for sentence.

William Thomas Martin admitted defalcations from employers by whom he had been employed as a butter salesman for nine months prior to July. He allegedly failed to account for £250 received from customers. He admitted fading to account for £B7. and was committed for sentence.

Theodore Desmond Poulton, aged 23, pleaded not guilty and was committed for trial on charges of forgery of a cheque for £7 on the National Bank at Auckland, and for £5B 10s on the Bank of New Zealand, Whangarei. He opened an account at Auckland, and, it was alleged, altered the amount of the cheque after the ledgerkeeper had initialled it at Whangarei. It was alleged he took the form from a fellow lodger’s cheque book and forged the signature.

Youths aged 16 to 18 admitted an extensive series of burglaries of city premises during July and August. Two elder boys (Roy Martin and Harold Robert Conway) have appeared previously for trivial offences, and the Magistrate ordered the nonpublication of the names of the others. The evidence showed that eleven shops and factories had meen entered by night and day, some more than once. Accused admitted more offences than charged with, though all were not concerned in every case. They were committed for sentence.

A youth of 18 admitted theft of clothing valued at £99 from the Kaiapoi Woollen Company. He was committed for sentence. In a written statement accused said he had disposed of practically all the stolen goods, in most cases selling to persons whose names were freely given in. In almost every case he asserted he told purchasers that the goods were stolen from his employers, and had obtained good prices. As it was accused’s first appearance in Court the Magistrate did not allow publication of his name.