WEDDING "SPLASH"

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 15, 19 January 1932, Page 8

WEDDING "SPLASH"

MAN LANDS IN TROUBLE

CHEQUES WITHOUT

FUNDS

(By Telegraph.) ' (Special to "The Evening PostJ")

AUCKLAND, 18th January.

To make a "splash"' at'his wedkling, Norman Finlayson McMillan, a farmer aged 25, took a course that led hiia to the Police Court on charges of false pretences. '. ' ;

Detective-Sergeant Kelly said thafrthe accused opened an account with an Auckland bank by depositing £25 on 28th October. Immediately afterwards he began to issue valueless cheques. Ho called ou a young man assistant in a.: large wholesale firm and asked him to.' cash a cheque for £ 25. The assistant referred him to the cashier, who cashed. the_cheque on the assistant's recommendation. The cheque was returned by the bank. The firm wrote to the accused, who replied by enclosing authority, to. collect the money from an Auckland insurance company, but on making inquiries there the firm discovered that there was no person of the,accused's name, on the books. .'

On 30th October McMillan went to a large drapery firm, which had known his family for many years, and representing to the credit manager that he was a man of means, asked him. to cash a cheque for ■£, 20. He told the credit manager that he was getting married, and that his fiancee was getting £100 from-her parents on her wedding day. That cheque also was returned marked "no funds." .

"At the time he got this' money, ?'i continued Detective-Sergeant Kelly,; "McMillan had already been marriedI,*1,* a day or so. He -obtained clothing valued at £22 14s 6d from the samjfj firm, and failed to pay. for it. He saijij. the account would be paid when he gi»t married." On 30th October McMillan also went into the shop of a jewellfcr and bought three rings valued at t&i 14s Gd with a cheque for £14 14s 6d. Ho received £10 in change. The che-gue turned out to be worthless. The total amount McMillan received as the re fult of cashing valueless cheques was :£59 14s Gd. '■■■/■

Counsel told .the Magistrate that McMillan had committed the same class of offence six years ago, but had made full restitution. "He came to toi m to get .married and started on an or fey of extravagance," said counsel. ""He wanted to make a splash." / The Magistrate (Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M.): "He has done that all night. What did he do -with all the rno?ftey he 'got?" . ' . ;

"He spent it on his weddinfj;," replied counsel.

The accused was remanded fbr sentence. " .-;