ALLEGED FRAUD

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 239, 27 June 1918, Page 8

ALLEGED FRAUD

SOLDIER AND A WOMAN CHARGED DRAPERY PURCHASES A case of an. interesting nature tame betore Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M., at Ihe Magistrate's Court yesterday, when a soldier, wearing the uniform of a corporal, whose name was given as A. B. Sanders, alias Frederick Marshall, alias Logan, was jointly charged with a young married woman, Myrtle Lilian Coley, that on May 21, witli intent to defraud, they did obtain goods and cash to the value of JI2B from To Aro House Drapery Company, Cuba Street, by means of a valueless cheque. Chief-Detective Boddam prosecuted, and the accused, who were not represented by counsel, pleaded not guilty. The male accused seemed to 3bow that he was possessed of some knowledge of legal procedure, for as soon as the case was called he made an application in the customary terms that all witnesses should be ordered out of Court. After the witnesses had retired he denied that Ms name was Sanders, and persisted, that it was Frederick Michael Marshall. Chief-Detective Boddam: That was the name his was represented to -be when hr> was arrested.

"That is a lie," cried accused dramatically, "Frederick Michael Marshall is the only name I will answer, to." His Worship said the name could be amended. . / "I am undefended, your Worship," remarked accused, "aid I would nsk you to follow the points of this rasa very closely, as you will see ■ from the evidence that this woman is placed in a false potiilion." His Worship: It is my duly to see that neither you nor the other accused suffer anything from lacic of counsel. Agne3 Harriett Rodgers, ledger-keeper nnd cashier for To Aro Houso Drapery Co., both the accused. On May 21 last, uhe. said, tho male accused went, to the shop and asked if witness could cash a cheque on the. Takapau Bank. Witness asked what name, and accused replied: "A. 1). Sanders." The name of A. B. Sanders appeared in a directory. Witness was given a hank deposit slip by the accused, which showed that one "A. B. Sanders'.' had deposited a sum of .£l2O. The mata accused went awny saying that he would return with his wife. In tho afternoon lie camo back to the shop, and was accompanied by the female accused, whom he introduced i\»

"Mrs. Sanders." Witness asked the female accused what goods she desired to buy, and the woman replied that she wanted a costume. Upon this, witness took tho female accused to the showroom. At the suggestion of the malo accused the so-called "S[r.i. Sanders" put her naino op the back of a cheque. The female accused made purchases' amounting to .£lB Ids. lid., and the sum of £9 was paid out in change on the cheque. Two days later witness recoived a .telephone message from AVanganui. A man was speaking over the wiro, and stated that he was "Sergeant Baker," and that witness had cashed a cheque two days previously which would be dishonoured. He asktii who was with the woman at Hie time the cheque was cashed. Witness if.plied that it was a soldier. Tho man then stated that the girl was his sister, and that the soldier was' getting her into trouble. On Hay 22 the cheque was lodged .at the hank,' and was dishonoured. , ~ . Accused (to witness): Did I lead you lo believe that I.'was ".Mr. Sanders"?—" Certainly." Did Ihe lady tell you her .'fame vns "Mrs. Sanders"? —"No, but she wrote her flame on the back of the cheque. Accused: I am sorry to ask you these questions, as it is to clear the lady, who io innocent. Witness, slated that Ihe words Hie' male accused used were: "My wife, Mrs. Sanders—Miss Rodgora." . Gladys Butler, assistant in Ttlie employ of To Aro House Company, testified that on May 21 Ihe female accused bought somo clolhes from Her. The woman -handed her a cheque for .C2S on the Bank of New Zealand at Tnknnnu. The iiccuwd said the cheque, which was signed "A. , B. Sanders." would be all right, as she had seen Miss Rodgers about it. Goods to the value.of .£lB 10s. lid. were purchased bv the female accused.

Tho-male accused (lo witness): Did this lady tell you h?r name was Mrs. Sanders?—" No." . . -.- Thomas Forsyth, manager of To Aro House, said he knew the male accused by the name of "Sergeant Hitter."' Between 4 and 5 o'clock on tho afternoon of May 23 witness engaged in conversa-. tion over the telephone with n man wlio paid his name was "Sergeant Baker," brother of a girl who had bought some good at Te Aro House, and that a cheque was presented which was no good. The cheque had been presented by a wan named "Sanders," 1 wiio was leading his sister astray. In order to save his sister the man' requested witness not to take any action imt.il he saw witness. Witf ness said he would give no promises over tho telephone, as it might be that he was speaking to Sanders himself. The man assnred witness that he was "Sergeant Baker," and that he was acting in the interests of his'sister. He pleaded very hard that witness should take no action. On the Saturday witness received a telegram at his private house from "Sergeant Baker," the contents' of which were as follow:—"Call Monday re cheque.- Sergeant Baker." Witness received a telephone message on the Monday from'"Sergeant Baker," who said he would call to eee witness. "Witness asked him if he knew the way to Te Aro House, and he said he did not. An arrangement was made to ~oieet witness outside 'the premises of the'firm.at 7.30 in the evening, the man saying he would ■Dβ able to find his way thero. Witness stated that at the interview ho noticed that the man, who Svns accueed, was irearinj; a> corporal's stripes, and ho remarked ijion the fact. Accused said he was getting another etripe when he went back to camp. "This is a very bad business," the accused said, "as this'_ is the second occasion on which my sister his disgraced the family." Accused described the man "Sanders" as a "rotter," and altogether a dangerous man. "Witness pointed out how the cheque had been dishonoured, and accused snid that he believed Sanders had had an account at Takapau, but there was nothing in it at present. Accnsed proposed that witness should take the goods back and hold them. He also said that he had followed the man Sanders, and his sister to Wanganui, but had just missed them, as they had gone on to Auckland. Accused stated that if witness took the goods back he would pay for them subsequently, and would also refund the -.£9 change. He said he was a "very honourable man," and that the matter would be arranged all right. Accused also said: "There will be no action against the soldier on this charge; the girl will have to bear the brunt." "Make no mistake about that," witness replied, "the man will have to go iip even if he" gqt the woman to endorse the cheque." Witness was quite sure that accused was the man who 6poke over the telephone from

Waiigamii, ns in the course of the Interview lie recognised tho voico as being tho same. Witness hiul agreed to the proposition to take back tho goods. Evelyn Broad, manager of Hie Bank of New Zealand at Takapau, stated that on May 22' (hero was no account in his bank in the name of "A. B. Sanders." The cheque (produced) was valueless. An account in the name of "A. B. Sanders" was closed in October, 1911. . Detective-Sergeant Scott gave evidence as to arresting the two accused. When charged with the offence tho male accused made no reply. On his way to the station tho male accused dropped a pocket-book, in which were two deposit slips with the name "A. B. Sandora" written on them. Tho female accused made a statement in which she" said she did not know that there was anything wrong- with the cheques until she was interviewed by the police authorities.

Tn answer to the male acused, -Detec-tive-Sergeant Scott said that when arrested accused protested against Ihe ltaiiiej of Sanders. That was the name wlach accused had adopted, and the warrant was issued at Wanganui in that irane. The two accused reserved their defence, and were committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Before being committed the male accused made the following statement:— "The girl is absolutely innocent of nny criminal intention. . She got these cheques from me." Pending trial, an order was made that the female accused.should remain in the Salvation Army Home. .