FRAUD WITH CHEQUE

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 23, 27 July 1934, Page 16

FRAUD WITH CHEQUE

MAN LOSES SAVINGS

"A calculated fraud -which deprived a young man of his savings," was how Mr. E. Page/S.M., in the''Magistrate's Court today, described the offence of William Alexander Thompson, aged 24, a labourer, and Charles Archer'Bryant, aged 46, a salesman, who were each sentenced to a period of reformative detention not exceeding three years for obtaining from C. E. Torrington £40 in silver coin by a false pretence. Thompson pleaded guilty, and although he gave evidence that 'Bryant, who pleaded not guilty, took ho part in the- offence, the Magistrate decided otherwise. Detective-Sergeant L. Eevell said that by arrangement with Bryant Torrmgton produced £40 in silver coin to Thompson, who said he represented a pawnbroker, Walter Smart, and offered in payment a cheque purporting to be signed by Smart. This took place at Torrington's residence, and as he seemed uneasy about the transaction Thompson took him to a public telephone box where he rang up and carried on a conversation with someone who represented himself to be Smart, and said the cheque was a good one. Torrington handed over the silver for the cheque, but, being still suspicious, followed Thompson to the city, where he saw Thompson join the accused Bryant. Next day the two men-dis-appeared, and they were recently arrested in Auckland. Evidence for the police was given by Torrington, Waiter Smart, M. Bodden, Arthur Collins, and" Thomas Andrew Kidd. Mr. A. J. Mazengarb submitted that there was insufficient evidence to connect Bryant with the fraud. Thompson's evidence was that he overheard Bryant talking in a hotel about Torrington and his silver, so he went to Torrington and bought the silver. . , ■ . . To Detective-Sergeant Eevell, Thompson denied that he was trying to save Bryant by giving false evidence. ... "I think it is quite «lear on.the evidence that he was a party to this fraud, and I propose to convict him," said the Magistrate, referring to Bryant. The detective-sergeant said that both men were undesirables, and they were very fortunate not to be charged with forging the cheque.