ALLEGED FALSE PRETENCES.

Gisborne Times, Volume LII, Issue 5463, 26 April 1920, Page 3

ALLEGED FALSE PRETENCES.

BANK MANAGER’S EVIDENCE TAKEN. In tlie case of Fred Power, alias Fred Jones, charged with obtaining money by false pretences from James Pirio, Teat and Friar, Hallenstein Bros., and William Petherbridge, the evidence of Edward Harrison Lawford, manager of the Union Bank of Australia, who is about to depart from Gisborne nil holiday leave, was taken at the Magistrate’s Court on Saturday morning. Edward Harrison Lawford, manager of the Union Bank of Australia, said he recognised the accused as tlie man who called upon him on the 14th February last and opened an account on his bank under the name of Fred Jones. Accused' when opening the account- offered an amount under Co and witness drew his attention to the smallness of theamount and suggested that- he open his account with the .Post Office Savings Bank. Accused said that would bo inconvenient- as he was employing men and would have to pay them by cheque. He then stated that Air Jex Blake would be remitting to the hank in the course of a clay or two the sum of £l5O for credit of hi s (accused's) account. He followed this up by saying that ;\ir r reel Hal! had recommended bun to come down to the bank to open the account. Witness then agreed to open the account and 1 accused purchased a cheque book- The numbers of the cheques in the book were 41731/60. The four cheques produced in court, and signed C. Richardson, were undoubtedly out of the book issued to the accused. There was no one of that name with an account in the Union Bank. Tlie signature book from the bank was produced and the signature of accused ns appearing therein corresponded with the signature on t-lio receipt for the cheque book. The signatures on the prisoner’s property sheets produced! and signed by ’‘Fred Power” and “F. Power.” were in the opinion of the witness written *by the same band, as that in the bank’s signature book.

On the application of Detective McLeod further hearing of the case was adjourned' until the 27th instant.