ALLEGED FALSE PRETENCES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 4985, 26 March 1895, Page 3

ALLEGED FALSE PRETENCES.

UTTERING A VALUELESS

CHEQUE.

At the Masterton S.M. Court this morning, before Messrs Geo. Heron and 11. Caselborg, J.P.'s, Patrick O'Donnell, with several aliases, was charged on remand with uttering a valueless cheque on Tuesday last at the Empire Hotel. Isabslla J. Dcllwood gave evidence that the accused camo to the bar of the Hotol and call for five drinks in payment of which he presented a cheque for £3, drawn on the Bank of Now Zoalund, Featherston, and signed Patrick O'Donnell, Tlio accused said the cheque was all right, he had raonoy in the Bank, and witness decided to retain the cheque till her father came into the bar. Accused was not drunk, but was not perfectly sober. • Robert E. Hornblow, auctioneer, skted that ho knew the accused, who was at one time in the employ of Mr P. Britt, contractor, and had on several occasions obtained goods from witness for Mr Britt. On the last occasion accused took goods away, he told witness that Mr Britt had said if he was short of money, be (accused) could borrow a few shillings from witness, to be charged to Jlr Britt's account. Witness gave accused 4s at his request, Subsequently about a fortnight later accused called again and wanted to borrow ss. Witness only gave the man Is, stating that he could advance no more until he had seen Mr Britt, Saw Mr Britt later, who; repudiated the liability and stated he had given accused no authority to obtain money in his name. Saw accused and told him he had better pay up. Subsequently accused tendorod a cheque for £3, Had no doubt it was tho same cheque now produced in Court. Accused wished witness to cash the cheque and hand over the balanco, after deducting the five shillings. Witness was suspicious, and declined to cash the cheque. Accused said he had a sum of money in the Bank at Featherston, and to prove tho cheque genuino, eaid it had been filled in by one of the Constables.

Sergeant McArdlt gave evidence that he became possessed of the cheque in question, and on asking accused if it was his accused admitted having signed it, also stating he had £BOO in the Bank of Now Zealand at Featherston, Afterwards accused said he had only £2OO, producing a scrap of paper purporting to be an agreement by accused to let somo bush to be felledon land which he said lie had purchased for £6OO. After arrest accused admitted he had no money in tho Bank, and had disgraced his father through this act. Witness replied that accused had done that long ago having been previously convicted of forgery. The man was the worse for drink, but thoroughly understood all that was said to him,

Douglas H. Robertson, manager] [of the Bank of New Zealand at Featherston, gavo evidence that there was no account at Feathorston, in the name of Patrick O'Donnell, at his bank. Accused said he nould like the present court to deal with his case, All he had done was through drink. Accused was then committed for: trial.