SURETY REFUSED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 226, 23 September 1932, Page 13

SURETY REFUSED.

SENSATION IN COURT. DID NOT KNOW ACCUSED. "SAVOURS OF AMERICAN STYLE." There was a sensation in the Police Court yesterday when the magistrate, Mr. 'P. K. Hunt, S.M., at the conclusion of the case in which Ernest Cheadle was charged with perjury, refused to accept a £500 surety of a well-known city moneylender. Cheadlo pleaded not guilty, reserved his defence, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Hβ was previously on bail of £200, but at the request of the police the magistrate increased the sum to £500 and directed that Cheadle should report himself daily to the city police. When counsel for Cheadle introduced the surety to the police, Detective Sergeant McHugh asked that he be placed in the witness box to be examined in the usual way. The man did so and was asked whether he w~s worth £500. "Yes, I am," he replied. "What are you?" asked Mr. Hunt., "I am a financial agent," said the witness. . "Do you know Cheadle?" "No, sir." Mr. Hunt: Well, it's not good enough. You don't even know the man. You are only going bail for him for a consideration. You are a moneylender. This savours too much of the American style of doing things. No, I won't accept you as surety. Cheadle was returned to the prisoners' room.