A DISTINGUISHED FOREIGNER.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9740, 5 March 1914, Page 7

A DISTINGUISHED FOREIGNER.

CHEQUE FRAUD. TWO MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT. Harry Wynne Hartog was charged, in the' Wellington Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr Riddell. S.M., with obtaining the sum of £l6 from Samuel Gilmer by means of false preteneofi. Samuel Gilmer, landlord of the Royal Oak Hotel, stated that he knew accused as Dr. Hartog. He stayed at the Royal Oak Hotel from January 26th to February 6th. Accused asked if witness would take his cheque on Auckland. Witness replied that it was unusual, but he would do so on that occasion. He received a telegram a couple of days afterwards from accused, asking him to told over the cheque. In consequence if that telegram, witness went to the hank and withdrew the accused's cheque. He waited three days, and as lie had not then heard from accused, he risked the bank here to forward the cheque to Auckland, and it was returned as not being negotiable. The accused spoke to him about buying Mr Rhodos's and other places in Wellington, and stated that he had, sinco his arrival in Auckland, purchased a motorcar.

Detective Andrews stated that he arrested the accused, who said that no fraud was intended, as he had expected to get a draft to pay Mr Gilmer with. Defendant made a statement, in the course of which lie said that when leaving Wellington he asked Mr Gilmer to hold over the cheque till the following Monday, and Mr Gilmer had replied, "Certainly; longer if you like." The money he had expected would not arrive till the middle of April. Chief-Detective Broberg stated that accused had made his appearance in Dunedin in January last, and stated to some medical gentlemen that he was going to read a paper on diseases of the feet at the Medical Congress in Auckland, but he did not put in an appearance at the congress. He gave his cheque on the 6th of February to Mr Gilmer, and was not arrested till the 23rd of that month. He was well known to the police in Victoria, and two convictions were recorded against him in the Police Gazette of that State of three and four months' imprisonment. Accused: Ido not admit my identity with that of the Victorian Police Gazette. Mr Riddell stated that defendant must be convicted, and sentenced him to "two months' imprisonment.