FORGED BANK NOTES

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 21, 20 October 1937, Page 8

FORGED BANK NOTES

Man YVlito Involved His Son FOUR YEARS’ JAIL Convicted by a jury in the Supreme Court, Wellington, yesterday, on two charges of forging Resei-vo Bank £5 notes, Charles Alfred Remmers, carpenter and labourer, was sentenced by Mr. Justice Reed to four years’ imprisonment with hard labour, the terms £o be concurrent. His Honour commented on Remmers’ having led his son into crime.

The trial commenced on Monday. The Crown prosecutor, Mr. W. H. Cunningham, called 16 witnesses, whose evidence concluded yesterday ingAccused, who conducted his own defence, brought no evidence but addressed the jury for 40 minutes. Ho said the police had built up a theory connecting him with the forgeries-on the ground that material that could be used for the making of the notes was found in a shed he occupied, but he claimed the material could have been brought there by a friend of his, and was. All his actions were those of a man with an innocent mind intent on assisting a friend printing Christmas cards.

Before accused was sentenced, Detective N. J. McPhee gave evidence, reading from a file. Accused, he said, was born in London 49 years ago and was educated at the Stanley Science and Art Centre L.C.C. School. He served as a policeman in England and in New Zealand, but in 1914 became involved in thefts and breaking and entering. He was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment for breaking and entering and 18 months on each of six convictions for theft. Upon his release he apparently became a labourer and builder. -In 1931, when he was a motor dealer in Wellington he was charged with forgery, uttering, attempted uttering, attempted false pretences, false pretences and conspiracy. Being convicted on all the charges except that of conspiracy, he was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment on each charge ot which he was guilty, the sentences to be served concurrently. After his release he was “on sustenance” and also worked as a labourer. After the forged notes had been circulated last Christmas, accused could not be found, but his son was charged with uttering forged notes, and had since been convicted and Sent to Borstal. Accused was not traced until July, having been working in the back country at Dannevirke under an assumed name, but he was then found and arrested. Detective McPhee said that the forgeries in 1931 consisted of signing the fictitious names of two clergynien to promisory notes. “It is all quite true,” Remmers remarked, declining to question the detective.

“You seem to have decided to follow a career of crime,” said his Honour, “and, what is worse, and I cannot understand a man of decent feelings doing it. You led your son into it too by getting him after his failure at technical college to assist you. I suppose you know the crime of which you have been found guilty is regarded by the legislature as one of the most serious to commit, and you are liable to be sentenced lor life. I suppose you know I can declare you an habitual criminal. I am not going to sentence you to life or declare you an habitual criminal. You will be sentenced to four years’ hard labour on each'charge, the sentences to bo concurrent.”