MAN ABSCONDS

Grey River Argus, 28 March 1928, Page 5

MAN ABSCONDS

1 After Plea of “Guilty” BAIL FORFEITED. NELSON, March 27. The only criminal case set clown for the Supreme Court to-day was that in which Ronald Edward Morrison, who had pleaded guilty at Takaka to breaking. entering and theft, was to coine up for sentence. When the ease was called in, Mr Moynagh, counsel for the accused, said that he was afraid that his client had absconded. Counsel went on to say that he represented John Frederick Rose, who went bailsman for the bond entered into by Mrs Newlove, the foster mot heir of the accused. Mrs Newlove, unfortunately, had supplied accused with a sum of money which he had used to abscond. His Honour: “Has he left New Zealand ? ’ ’ Counsel: “I do not think so. I think that he has gonej to Christchurch.” On the application of Mr Moynagh, Jo Jin F. Rose went into the witness box and explained the position and the steps that he (witness) had taken to communicate with th ( > police when he became apprehensive regarding the accused’s movements. His Honour remarked that he considered that, in the circumstances, the witness had done his best. Mr Keipnitz, Crown Prosecutor, agreed, and said that he would not ask for the forfeiture of Rose’s bond, but would do so in the case of Mrs Newlove. His Honour agreed to this course, and made orders accordingly. The accused had been released on bail of self in £lOO and two recognaisances of £75 ejach. BIGAMIST LENIENTLY TREATED. AUCKLAND, March 27.

Mr Justice Blair, dealing with the case of bigamy against Charles Kemble Poore, said hi? considered there were extenuating circumstances, accused having an unblemished character. His marriage in London in 1925 had been unwise, and. he had gone through the form of marriage with the other woman at New Plymouth apparently because h e was anxious to father her child from a sense of duty. There was want-1 ing in this case the element of an innocent woman being deceived into marriage with a man already married. Defendant was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within twelve mouths. PRISONERS SENTENCED. AUCKLAND, March 27. At the Supreme Court, Wm. Scholes and Edwin Andrew Simpson were sentenced by Justice Blair on twentyone charges of false pretences and theft, Scholes being also convicted on a charge of escaping from custody and. obtaining £l9 10s by valueless cheques. Scholes was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for fraud and one year additional escaping from custody. Simpson was sentenced to two years’ reformative detention.