SERIES OF THEFTS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume IX, Issue 180, 16 July 1919, Page 2

SERIES OF THEFTS.

A NAPIER CASE. Richard Albert R. Fussell appeared at the Napier Police Court yesterday afternoon, before Mr. _R. W. Dyer, S 'I., on the following charges, (1) on July 4th, did break and enter the dwelling house of John Patriek Morrisey, and steal therefrom one Post Office bank book valued at 1/- the property of the said Morrisey; (2) on July sth did make a false document to wit, a Post Office withdrawal slip for £l5, knowing it to be false with intention that it should be used as genuine, and caused John Hodgkinson to act upon it as if it were ine ; (3) did enter the dwelling house of Robert. C. Napier, and steal a Post Office Savings Bank book, valued at I/-, the property of Emily Gladys Napier; (4), aid enter the dwelling house of Charles P. Lound, with intent to commit a crime ; (5) did make a false document, to wit, a Post Office withdrawal slip for £9 ; (6) did make a false document, a cheque for £5, purported to be signed by E. Evans, causing it to be acted’upon as genuine and causing Malcolm C. McVicar to act upon it as if it were genuine ; (7) at Hastings, did make a false document, a cheque for £3, and cause Edwin R. B. Daniels to act upon it, a« if it were genuine. Detective-Sergeant Ward said this was a series of offences commit ted by accused between May and July. In the first place he obtained a couple of blank cheques at the Soldiers’ Club, filled them in and got them cashed, one at the Grand Hotel, Hastings, and another by a Mr. McVicar, at Westshore. He later went into the premises of Mr. Morrisey, Napier South, stole a Post Office Savings Bank book, and next day went to Petane wh- ; re he forged his name to a withdrawal slip and induced a Post official ’ j give him £l5 He later went to Mr. R. Napier’s house, stole a Bank book, and it was while he was endeavouring to get an official , at the Post Office to act upon another withdrawal receipt, he was handed over to the police, the Postal officials being on the alert, Accused, when interviewed, admitted the offences.

Evidence was given on these lines by the various persons concerned. Accused pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court at Wellington immediately for sentence. Bail was refused.