GIVEN A CHANCE

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 98, 20 January 1932, Page 5

GIVEN A CHANCE

Ex-Businessman in Trouble

VALUELESS CHEQUES

Thanks to the generosity of his employer in Central Otago, for whom he liad worked as a gardener, an ex-Wel-Inigton businessman, who appeared before the Magistrate’s Court yesterday was given an opixirtunlty of rehabilitating himself by being placed on probation for -two years.

Accused was Daniel Campbell, 40, who pleaded guilty before Mr. E. Page, S.M., to seven charges of obtaining money ami goods by means of valueless cheques. He also pleaded guilty to obtaining £2 by false pretences, the total amount involved being £l9/10/-. Detective-Sergeant Revell informed the court that accused had been in a fair way of business in 'Wellington at one time, but drink had overcome him, and he had lost it. He opened an account in the Bank of New Zealand on August 21, aud closed it the following month. After doing so he issued valueless cheques at Wellington, Petone, and Christchurch, and at Dunedin obtained £2 from Reilly’s Central Produce Mart by falsely representing that he was employed by Marins and Campbell. He bad not been before the court previously.

Counsel for accused said Campbell bad been drinking for some months past. Away from the drink he was a most respectable citizen, and lie had spent some time in the country to try and overcome his weakness. On coming back to Wellington he got into doubtful company, started drinking and lost his balance. After committing the offences he obtained employment as a gardener in Central Otago, and his employer was so satisfied with his work that he was willing to take him back and pay his fare from Wellington. Mr. Page granted accused probation for two years on condition that he abstained from liquor and refunded the xuru of £l9/10/%