CHARGE OF FALSE PRETENCES

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25, 30 January 1912, Page 7

CHARGE OF FALSE PRETENCES

GB/OWK.LE HUNT BEFORE THE COUBT. " STOBT OF PEOiIIBSOEY NOTES. Gtanville Hunt, at present awaiting trial on charges of forgery, was further charged in the Magistrate's Court, before Air. A. Crooke, S.M., to-day with having, on or about the 13th of April, 1910, obtained by means of false pretences a p.p. for £186 13s 2d from William Henry Nash. Chief-Detectivß Broberg prosecuted, and Mr. T. W. Hislop appeared for accused. William Henry Nash, leather merchant, Wellington, gave details of his business transactions with Hunt, who indented goods for , hitn from William Walker, Ltd., leather merchants, Whitehaven, England. A shipment of leather arrived by the Fifeahire earty in April, and on accepting delivery witness tendered Hunt as payment two p.n's for £186 13s 2d each. One was due on the l&ib of September, and the other a. month later. Shortly after receiving the r.otes, accused culled on witness, and asked him to make out a fresh note, as It 3 had destroyed on© of the others in a lit of temper. He gave as at reason for destroying the note that hta clerk had cpilled ink on it. Witness remarked that it was hardly bnsineselike, and asked why tho pieces had not been 'brought to him. Accused replied -that as th«y had known each ether for co long he thought an explanation was all that was n«ces«iry. Accused promised to give a Iftttei' of indemnity that would absolve witness from any^ further liability. Ev-eultially, the fresh not© was made out. Accused handed over the totter of indemnity. In consequence of something no had hoard concerning Hunt., witness later on decided to stop payment of the 4 notss, but on Making enquiries he found that three notes for £186 13s 2d each had been discounted by Messrs. Doughty and ' Co. Witness met them when they became due. Corroborative evidence was given by Na<b's ledger keeper, John W. Maxwell. •Tames Bmger, formerly employed by Hunt, knew nothing about tho defaced note He had never spilleJ ink ou the note, nor had be ever told Hunt that ho had done so. William & Doughty, of the firm of Oeorge and Doughty, deposed to discounting three t>,n.'s for Hunt, and evidence to the effect that Hunt had nothing to kny; when charged with the offence w;«? jiiveti by Detective Andrews. At this stage tho case was adjourned unt'l <hi* nfloVfloon. y On h'Awj formally charged Hunt pleaded gailty and w/Jn committed to the Sujs/omo Court Urt ton tone©. "Has the cpintcl! any control yver 11m> 'Ijns di'lveife in in is ' borough?" c^l: a jl Cuirrid'br Root? at jast night's media;/ of Lli<» Lqv/er Hutt Boioafjh Ci-uuvil. "3 ask ihis question," lie continoed, " because rfifently a driver c«ming through the Gorge frdrrt Ti'enthaai lt)\ off thft'biM three times, . . .< and eventually the passengers had to walk home, /t is a. serious matter." Tho town dank explained that pll cirivtfd v/sro licensed. "But are they! " iqterposfcd Councillor Roots. "TW inspectot has that matter in hand," was the reply. The Inspector wa«i thereupon invited to make a st&tencut, in tne course of v/llicti ne said ihat he h*d laid two informations against one drher for not being licensed and on* against the owner of the vehicle. "That's satisfactory," commented a councillor. Tlt» oponing "social" of the MAnX Socioty will bo he'd in the Socialist Hull, Ivlnnnei's^street, to-morrow evening. Miss Paul notified pupils that she ha? rsEumed her olas3o3 f