THEFT AND FORGERY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 164, 13 July 1928, Page 5

THEFT AND FORGERY.

MAN'S SERIES OF OFFENCES. "I HAVE BEEN A FOOL." (By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.) W ELLINGTON, this day. 'I have found out what a fool I have been and 1 would like a chance to go straight," said William John Thomas Whalley in the Police Court yesterday.

On June 20 Whalley pleaded guilty to the theft of a tent-end at Te Araroa and a pair of binoculars at Gisborne, and also to having obtained £14 7/ by means of a valueless cheque. To-day he pleaded guilty to a further charge of stealing a gramophone valued at £12 10/ from an Auckland firm.

The chief detective said that until last Easter Whalley had worked in various hotels. On April 9 he forged and uttered a cheque in Wellington for £9 14/, and left for Gisborne, where he stole the binoculars. He pawned them and sold the pawn ticket. Leaving Gisborne he went to Hicks Bay and worked for the County Council. After being there a few days he stole a cheque book belonging to one of the men in camp with him, and uttered a cheque for £14 7/. He left the camp, taking part of a tent, and returned to Gisborne, where he forged another cheque. He went to Auckland, where he bought a gramophone on a hire purchase agreement. and later sold it for £o. Accused had been admitted to two years' probation in the Supreme Court yesterday on two charges of forging and uttering, and had been ordered to make restitution of the money involved.

The magistrate said he wished to consider the ease, and lie remanded Whalley to appear to-day for sentence.