ARTISTIC FORGER.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 72, 26 March 1928, Page 9

ARTISTIC FORGER.

"NO USE TO NEW ZEALAND."

PLEA TO BE SENT HOME.

JUDGE WILLING TO HELP.

William Scholes, who escaped from custody on his way from Christchurch to Auckland last year, has been fifteen vcars in New Zealand, during which time he has built up a reputation that has earned him the iV'assification of an habitual criminal. Prior to coming from the Old Country, it was said for him in the Supreme Court this morning bv hi* counsel, Mr. J. J. Sullivan, when lie appeared before Mr. Justice Blair for sentence of 21 charges of false pretences and theft and escaping from lawful custody, that he had borne an unblemished character.

Scholes pleaded to be sent back Home so that he might start over afresh, and his Honor agreed to assist him in his aim, providing his people wanted him back.

His Honor described Scholes as an artistic forger, who had got hold of a chcque book and used it so long as the cheques lasted and there were foolish people to accept them. So far as New Zealand was concerned, Scholes had been no use at all, and it was probable that the Prisons Board would be glad to get rid of him, in accordance with the suggestion made by counsel. His Honor sentenced Scholes on the understanding that he was charged with forgery, whereas he was actually charged with false protences, the maximum penalty for which was three years. It seemed to him that five years—the sentence originally imposed—was the proper sentence for Scholes, and he would get over the difficulty by sentencing prisoner to three years on the first charge, two years on the second, and one year on the charge of escaping from custody, making altogether six years, the sentence to be concurrent with his present sentence. Accused was convicted and discharged on the remaining chargps.

Scholes was apparently moved when his Honor promised to recommend to the Prisons Board that he be sent back to England, providing his parents made representations to the effect that they wanted him back.

Scholes said he had never had a chance, and his Honor agreed that the position for him in New Zealand was hopeless. "As .far as lam concerned, I will h«slp you all I can to get your wishes, but I won't help you to get out of gaol in New Zealand," he added. "A Willing Tool." Edwin Andrew Simpson, a young man who was associated with Scholes in the wholesale issuing of valueless cheque , appeared to answer 18 charges of false pretences and theft, and was sentenced to reformative detention for a period not exceeding two years. Mr. Gregory applied to have Simpson admitted to probation, submitting that he was a first offender and had not got into trouble till he had got into association with a man already convicted. . It was clearly patent; he said, that accused got under the thumb of Scholes.

... ."You must have |o»own that Scholes was a criminal, and it is apparently obvious that you were sheltering him and assisting him to carry on a long series of forgeries and victimisation of tradespeople," said his Honor, after, remarking that he was tempted to aCcede to counsel's request. There was something to be said from the point of the tradespeople, who were frequently victimised under pressure of business, when risks had to be taken. It was people like Scholes, who no doubt found accused a willing tool, Who were artistic enough to do it. His Honor regretted that he could not consider the application for probation in Simpson's case.