CHINESE IN COURT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 149, 26 May 1939, Page 3

CHINESE IN COURT.

Appearing on remand', yesterday, before Mr H. I’. Lawrv, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court, Harry Wong, alias Wing Lee, alias 'Wong Gang, aged 38, was charged that, on February 5 at Palmerston North, with intent to defraud, lie obtained clothes valued at £3 11s and £l2 8s in money by means of a. valueless cheque drawn on the National Bank of New Zealand, Hastings, and signed by Wing Lee: and that on February 4, 1938, at Wanganui, with intent to defraud, lie obtained goods valued at 18s and £5 2s in money, by means of a valueless cheque drawn on the National Bank of New Zealand at Hastings, and signed bv "Wing Lee. Accused entered pleas of. guilty to both charges through his solicitor. Mr L. G. H. Sinclair. Detective-Sergeant Moiklejohn said accused had had two accounts with the National Bank at Hastings where he had been a market-gardener for a considerable time. He had operated for the purposes mentioned in tho charges on tho first account, which had then been closed, and had left soon afterward for China. Tho money owing under both charges had been paid by accused. . Air Sinclair said accused had soJci up his business to go home to Canton. China, to assist his people to escape from the danger zone. He had served in tho Chinese' Army and had then returned to New Zealand to secure money to support his people, now in Hong Kong, hie had a £5 draft to send to them. The valueless cheques had been issued to secure money for his passage to China. Tho Magistrate ordered accused to come up for sentence if called, on within a year and commented that it was quite possible _ that accused had becomo confused in the state, of mind he was in just before leaving for China. It was also a fact that on his return to New Zealand lie had returned to the districts in which he was know’ll previously, and he had also repaid the money owing.