FIRMS TAKEN DOWN

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXV, Issue 3371, 29 September 1931, Page 5

FIRMS TAKEN DOWN

VALUELESS CHEQUES.

COMMENT BY MAGISTRATE

"There's a fool born every minute, you know, but it's rather hard for a layman to understand why business firms are taken down so easily," said Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M., when Alfred Holliday, an unemployed clerk, aged 42 years, appeared before him in the Magistrate's Court at Christchurch last week to answer five charges of false pretences, by issuing valueless cheques to a total value of £9 10s. Accused pleaded guilty and was remanded for sentence. The method accused had used, said the chief detective, was to state that he was a farmer in the city for the day, and had forgotten his cheque book. By this means he obtained some loose cheques, which he cashed at other business premises, buying some small articles. Pie had obtained £8 in cash.

"It was lack of employment that made him drink, and these offences, I understand, were all committed when he was under the influence of liquor," said Mr. Symes, who appeared for accused. The man had lived twenty-two years in the city and had previously had a good record. He was willing to take out a prohibition order and make restitution as far as possible out of relief pay.

"If these people get their money back it is almost more than they deserve," said the Magistrate, in remanding accused for sentence. "We have had dozens of these cases before us in recent months and have done all we can to warn people."