VALUELESS CHEQUE AS DONATION

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 128, 24 February 1930, Page 9

VALUELESS CHEQUE AS DONATION

A CRIMINAL’S EXPLOITS EX-NAVAL OFFICER RETURNED TO PRISON The donation of a valueless cheque to a Wellington organisation was stated by the police to be one of the exploits of Roland Henry Whiffey, a salesman, aged 34, who appeared before Mr. E. Page in the Magistrate’s Court on Saturday on three charges involving fraudulent transactions. “This man came to New Zealand six years ago, and shortly after his arrival he came under the notice of the police,” said Chief-Detective Lopdell, who mentioned also that accused had recently cashed ten valueless cheques. “He has since been piling up a bad record for himself. He was recently before this Court, when he received four months’ imprisonment. On getting his liberty he seems to have created for himself an atmosphere of confidence with one of the local banks by representing that he had a considerable amount of money, and that securities were coming to him from England. He arranged that some credit should be given to him,, subject to certain conditions. Acting upon the banks verbal promise he started to operate, and in all he had passed ten cheques. “From several of these cheques he has derived no benefit at all. With one he made a donation to a certain worthy cause, and with the proceeds of another he gave a sum of money on loan to a person. He went to a business man in Petone and arranged to take premises there. He said he represented a business firm in Wellington. His rent was paid in advance, but after giving the cheque he did not take over the premises. “Accused then went to another business man and purchased a good deal of furniture. However, the man got to hear that there vyas something wrong, and the furniture was not delivered. When he arranged to take over the premises he gave his name as Nelson, and at the same time he said his wife was going away, and that he was short of money. The man offered to cash a cheque for £5 for the accused on being asked, and. then he went out to present it, so involving himself in the liability for the action.” Mr. Lopdell added that accused was said to be an ex-Naval officer, and he had a pension of £l2 a month from the Imperial authorities. Part of this he paid toward the upkeep of his child in England, but he received 30/- a week himself. “In the circumstances, one cannot understand his actions,” Mr. Lopdell said. “He seems to be an able man of business ability. He might easily make an honest living.” “All I have to say is that I have been drinking a lot lately” said accused when asked if he desired to make a statement. Remarking that accused had eight previous convictions, the Magistrate imposed a sentence of six months’ imprisonment.