MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23971, 11 June 1943, Page 7

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

THURSDAY (Before Mr E. C. Levvey, S.M.) VALUELESS CHEQUES After Allen Mervyn David Rowe, aged 37, a labourer, had pleaded guilty to several charges of obtaining goods with Intent to defraud by the rendering of valueless cheques at Christchurch, Rangiora. and Tlmaru, his counsel, Mr J. K. Moloney, suggested that he should be medically examined with a view to ascertaining his mental condition. Rowe, said Mr Moloney, had twice been In a mental institution. The Magistrate stated that application could be made to the Minister of Justice in the usual way. Rowe, who pleaded gujlty, was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Robert Alexander McLean Sinclair, of Rangiora, stated that the accused had called at his shep on May 28 and attempted' to pass a cheque for £lB signed "T. Leich,” in payment for goods. The Witness refused to accept the cheque or to let him have his purchases. When the accused was approached by Sergeant D. T. Moore, of Rangiora, he admitted tendering the cheque. This witness subsequently ascertained that he bad no bank account, as stated, in Rangiora. Charles Janies Kelr, mercer, of Rangiora, said that Rowe had given him a cheque for £lB after purchasing goods to the value of £9 14s 3d. He declined to cash It, and, being suspicious, communicated with the police. Evidence was. also given by Laurie Ronald Parks, a salesman of the Calder Mackay Company. Christchurch; who said that RoWe had called there representing himself as “Jt Reid,” of Barfield. He had given a cheque for £2O purported to have been signed by Reid, and after buying two chairs, had received £7 10s in change. The cheque was returned marked “no account.” Similar evidence was offered by Cyril Frederick Truscott, saddler, of Christchurch, to whom Rowe had given a cheque for £lB 10s, and had received £5 15s in change. Goods to the value of £l2 15s had been purchased. This cheque, allegedly signed by Reid, had also been returned. To James Henry Hayward, mercer, of Christchurch. Rowe had given a cheque for £2O 10s in payment for goods, and had received £9 12s in change. This cheque, also purported to have been signed by Reid, was returned marked “no account.” A cheque for a similar sum was presented to John Charles Howarth, plumber, of Christchurch, who cashed it, believing that it was Reid’s. This was similarly returned. Detective Norman Thompson, who Interviewed Rowe with 1 reference to an identical transaction at Timaru, where he passed a cheque for £2O 10s signed “J. Dempsey,” produced signed statements by the accused wherein he admitted his guilt. The money, said Rowe, had been spent in drink. THEFT OP MOTOR SPIRIT Alfred Grenfell, aged 35, a married man with four children, pleaded guilty to the theft of six gallons of motor spirit valued at 16s lOd, also to operating a motor-vehicle without a warrant of fitness. Mr R. P. Thompson, for the accused, said that he had had an allowance of only five gallons, and that he had used the spirit in the course of his duty. While it was a case obviously of theft, said counsel, he appealed for leniency as this was Grenfell’s first offence. He was fined £lO and costs, In default 21 days’ imprisonment on the first charge, and on the second was convicted and discharged. Henry Harold McGrath appeared for sentence on a charge of having stolen one gallon of petrol valued at 2s DJd, the property of Victor Charles ' Curtis. There was a second charge against him of unlawfully wearing the King’s uniform. Observing that the Probation Officer’s report had not been good, the Magistrate sentenced him to five weeks' im* prisonment with hard labour on the first charge. On the second he was convicted and discharged, "You have aggravated your offence by lying to the Court,” was the comment of the Magistrate. THEFT FROM SHOP “Tlie police threatened me that if I did not sigh the statement they would send me to the 'ladies’ gaol at Addington,’” said a sales girl, aged 19, who was charged with the theft of 4s 3d, the property of a city firm, also with appropriating nightgowns, stockings, wool, and other goods from the shop In which she had been employed for three and a half years. “Young woman, you have been very : foolish,” said the Magistrate, who ordered 1 the suppression of her name. “Hitherto you have had a good record. It is dif- I Scult lo know what to do with you, I ' think that you have indulged in those j practices, not from a criminal motive, ■ 3ut in a spirit of aggrandisement.” j The girl was ordered to come up for 1 icntence if called upon within two yeans, ' ind on the second charge she was eon- J rioted and discharged. ! Mr J. K. Moloney appeared for the ac:used, who had pleaded not guilty. ' GIVEN A CHANCE i John Francis Harnett, aged 22, labourer, ( A'ho was described by the Probation i Officer (Mr W. H. Darby) as, one of the C nost accomplished liars he had met in c 10 years’ experience, appeared on a f fliarge that he had failed to comply with 1 he terms of his release on probation. I 'He lias a smooth and oily tongue," de- I flared that official. r The Magistrate decided to give Harnett J i chance. He was ordered to give an t jrder on his wages to the Probation r Dfflcer for £ls Iss, so that certain in- t lebtedness he had incurred for board s md other expenses could be repaid, and £ lie case was adjourned until August 1. *' “Remember, that if you come here ® igain you will receive the full penalty,” ? ic was warned by the Magistrate. “ CHARGES OF THEFT v “Evidently you are determined to pur- £ ue the course on which you have em- ( larked,” said the Magistrate when r loward Graham Baldwin, aged 19, an ji ngineer, appeared before him for sen- p ence. He had pleaded guilty to the I heft of £5, the property of Alan Stuart c inderson; also to the theft of £6, the d roperty of Samuel Barry George Luff, g loth l thefts were committed at an Air ti 'orce station. jj Mr J. K. Moloney, for the prisoner, “ uggested that he might be permitted * d offer himself for general service over- = eas. Baldwin appeared in the dock in *? nr Force uniform. ? "There is only one thing to do with J* ou,” said the Magistrate, when sentenc- *’ ig Baldwin to two months’ Imprison- * lent with hard labour on the first large. On the second he was convicted nd discharged..

STABLE-HANDS ADMONISHED Two lads, both stable-hands, pleaded guilty to having assaulted a young man on May 1, also to having purchased and removed liquor from a hotel. Mr W. R. Lascelles, for the accused, said that the offences were not serious, and had occurred following a dance when both were somewhat Intoxicated. Both' accused, he added, had good records. “You are looking for trouble If you take liquor,” the Magistrate admonished the boys, who were ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within 12 months, also to share the cost of witnesses’ expenses totalling £4 8s 6d. On the liquor charges they were each fined £2 and costs. FAILED TO ATTEND PARADES For not performing Home Guard duty, George Frederick Southwood, aged 33 (for whom Mr C. V. Quigley appeared), was fined £2 and costs. Counsel explained that his client was a munition worker and had been on night work, but he now expected to go into the Army any day. Bernard Clifford Grey, aged 17, farmhand, appeared on a similar charge. The defendant explained that he had been ill and suffered from gastric trouble. 'Tf you are not ill and do not attend parades 1 won't waste any more time with you,” said the Magistrate when adjourning the case until August 12. ATTEMPTED SUICIDE A labourer, 30 years old, appeared on a charge of having attempted to commit suicide on June 8. The police stated that he was suffering from venereal disease. The Magistrate ordered the suppression of his name, and after convicting him, directed that he should receive hospital treatment. MILK VENDOR FINED Allen Thomas Arscott, of Lyttelton road, milk vendor, Wag fined £6 and 6rdered to pay costs, for selling milk that was not up to standard. Mr H. O. Jacobsen, for defendant, said that his client had no previous convictions. “He cannot understand how this happened,” said counsel. "It SS not & case for a high penalty.” LICENSING OFFENCES For having been found on the premises of the King George Hotel during hours when the hotel should have been closed, Frederick Easterbrook and Edward Henry Robertson were each fined £1 and costs.

CASTING OFFENSIVE MATTER For casting offensive matter in Madras street on May 2, Frederick Redden and Frederick Redden, jun., were each fined £2, and ordered to pay costs. The latter, who appeared and pleaded guilty, said that he was drunk at the time o t the offence.