SEVEN CHARGES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 109, 11 May 1939, Page 12

SEVEN CHARGES.

METAL WORKER IN COURT. ALLEGATIONS OF THEFT. A plea of not guilty was entered by David George Fletcher, sheet-metal worker, to each of seven charges preferred" against him In the Police Court to-day. The charges were heard before Messrs. Farrell and Gee, J.P.'s, Detec-tive-Sergeant McHugh appearing for the police and Mr. J. J. Sullivan for the accused. There were charges of obtaining £(>, £5 10/, £5 7/ and £0 with intent to defraud, by means of valueless cheques. one of theft of a purse containing £1 2/6J, one of theft of £4 14/ in money and cigarettes valued at £1 19/6, and one of theft of £8 9/6.

Norman Parata, manager of the Olympic Sports' Room, gave evidence that on April 2 he closed the premises. Xext day he discovered a hole had been made in the door of the room, and on entering the office found that cigarettes to the value of £1 lfl/6 and £4 14/ in money were missing. Witness identified the packages of cigarettes produced as those taken from the office. Witness knew the accused, who had been a patron for some months. On January 3 accused asked witness for a loan. Witness gave accused £6 and received a cheque for £6, which accused eakl was "all right." Next day the cheque was returned marked "R.D." Accused also rang witness up and informed him the cheque wae no good. He suggested witness should see a certain solicitor, when arrangements would be made for restitution. Witness saw the solicitor, but got no satisfaction. David Donald Rawnsley, motor body builder, said that on the night of April 2 he loaned accused 25/ in a Symonds Street club. The same night he drove accused to Queen Street. Accused got out of the car at the Town Hall. Later accused left a parcel containing three cartons and 40 packages of cigarettes in the car. Witness did not know where accused got the cigarettes. Later witness handed the cigarettes to Detective Grace. (Proceeding.)