VALUELESS CHEQUES

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 141, 16 May 1929, Page 2

VALUELESS CHEQUES

SYSTEMATIC SCHEME. Per Press Association. NEW PLYMOUTH, May 15. The story of a systematic scheme for defrauding tradespeople by the passing of valueless cheques by three men who set out from Christchurch to do the North Island was unfolded at the Police Court to-day when Leslie Charles Bourk, one of the trio whoso operations were cut short last week, appeared on remand before/Mr Tate, S.M., on four charges of obtaining goods and money by this means. Ho wont to a jeweller’s shop where he purchased a fountain pen for £2 2s 6d, tendering a cheque for £lO and received the balance in cash. Goods were also purchased at a drapery establishment for £1 14s where another £lO cheque was cashed. Next his attention was given to a hairdresser where lie made purchases of goods to the value of 15s, tendering a cheque for £o. _ A man who was in the shop at the time remembered seeing another man cashing a cheque in another shop on the opposite side of the street earlier. Bourk was then followed and. found in a well-known clothing establishment fitting himself out with a cardigan pullover at a cost of 19s 6d and receiving change for a cheque for £5. Bourk was quite frank and gave the police the whole story of the scheme since he came into it. The amount involved, in the New Plymouth transactions was £3O, goods to a total value of £5. 11s being purchased and cash received amounting to £24 9s. The cheques were all drawn on the Bank of. Australasia in Christchurch by one “Aubrey” and made payable to “Mr T. A. Russell,” while accused carried a letter setting out that the cheques were paid to him on account of wages> The senior-sergeant said that defendant was in Christchurch on May Ist when he met two men named Hill and Shaw who both had previous convictions. Hill’s real name was Thomas. They told him that they had been passing valueless cheques in Christchurch and were going to “clean up” the North Island and he agreed to join them. They “did some business” in Wellington and Wanganui and reached New Plymouth on May 5. Next day Thomas gave Shaw and Bourk six cheques and sent them off, one down each side of the main street. Twelve cheques had been drawn, eight for £lO each and the others for £5 each. When arrested Bourk had £l7 on him. So far as could be ascertained threo cheques had been passed by the man on the opposite side of the street. Bourk’s arrest caused the other two men to make a clean breakaway. Bourk had nothing to do with the operations in Christchurch where it is understood the cheque book was taken from a house which had been broken into by one of the others. There were some previous convictions against Bourk, but not of this kind.

Accused pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six months’ hard labour.