Alleged False Pretences

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30682, 23 February 1965, Page 11

Alleged False Pretences

Three men were arraigned in the Supreme Court yesterday before Mr Justice Macarthur on a series of charges of false pretences. The accused were Vincent

John Wright, aged 38, unemployed (Mr M. G. L. Loughnan), Robert Gourley, aged 28. unemployed (Mr R. L. Kerr), and Ronald Alan Peters, aged 29, unemployed (Mr A. R. Cottrell).

Gourley and Wright jointly faced three charges of false pretences. Gourley and Peters were jointly arraigned on four charges of false pretences and one of attempted false pretences. Gourley was also arraigned on yet another charge of false pretences and Wright faced a charge of receiving. All three men were jointly arraigned on still another charge of false pretences.

Wright and Gourley pleaded not guilty, and Peters pleaded guilty. His Honour remanded Peters in custody for sentence on March 3.

Opening the Crown's case against Wright and Gourley, the Crown Prosecutor (Mr C. M. Roper) said that 10 business firms were defrauded by the two accused and Peters to the extent of almost £2OO in goods and money within two days. Worthless cheques were cashed in Christchurch, Rangiora, and Kaiapoi. On November 11 a bank account was opened in the name of Collin David Phillips with an Initial deposit of £3O, and a book of 60 cheques was issued. The first two cheques issued from the book were cashed later the same day, and took substantially the amount of the initial deposit. Further cheques were dishonoured. In all instances except one the signature on the cheques was the same as that which had been put on the bank’s specimen card. Harry William Dear, a bank officer, identified Gourley as the person who opened the account in the name of Collin David Phillips. The trial will continue today.