THEFT OF £30.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18923, 11 February 1927, Page 13

THEFT OF £3O.

COCAINE VICTIM BEFORE COURT. 1 GIVEN A CHANCE, [THB PRBSS SpeelU Bertie*.] AUCKLAND, February 10. At the Police Court to-day John Francis Holcombe, aged 26, admitted that he had obtained £lO from Ret Hoycs, & similar stint from Williams Edgar Webb, and a further £lO from Spedding, Ltd., with intent to defraud, and by means of valueless cheques. Chief Detective Cummings commenced to outline the accused's history since he landed in the Dominion: "Holcombe arrived nt Wellington from San Francisco in April of last year, and was subsequently employed by a large motor firm in that city," said Mr Cummings. "Shortly afterwards he got into trouble, and was admitted to one year's probation on two charges of false pretences. His employers allowed him to remain in their employ, but some timo later thoy found him unsatisfactory and dismissed him. , Accused then went to Gisborne, Opotiki, and Rotorua. At Rotorua he represented that he was still with the Wellington firm, and inspected the stock in a garage at Rotorua. Telling a story that he had run short of money, ho was given a cheque, which he filled in for £lO and cashed. At the other two places ho did the same thing and obtained £3O in all. At Auckland at one garage he visited ho represented that ho was still in the employ of the Wellington firm. He took up half a day and put the owners to a wholo lot of trouble by inspecting the Stock to ascertain whether there wbb a surplus. Then he went to a big hotel in Princes street, where the tariff is greater than £1 per day. In addition to leaving Gisborne, owing his landlady some money, accused had run up a large account at tho Princes street Hotel." "Have you anything to say, Holcombe?" asked the Magistrate. "Waal, guess I have got a little to say. I was a motion pieturc director in Hollywood, and like most all the folk in the picture business, I fell victim to taking cocaine, or, as we call it, 'snow.' My father, who is a banker, did not like me going into the motion picture business, so I kinda thought that I would come out here to New Zealand. I did all right until I got a letter containing some bad news from the folks at home. T met a man at the Midland Hotel, Wellington, who had some 'snow,' and he gave me a couple of 'decks.' I don't know whether you know it, but 'snow' makes one think I various things. It brings sleep and relaxation. It made me think that I had n lot of money—that I. was a Rockefeller—and so it went on." Mr McKean: You were given a chance in Wellington, you know, when you were placed on probation. You cannot be allowed to go on the way you have been doing, Holcombe. "I realise that I was given a chanct in Wellington. I can make restitution of the £3O, but I do not want the folks at home to know about this trouble." The Magistrate then reminded accused until Saturday morning, in order to give him a .chance to make restitution.