MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 161, 9 June 1939, Page 2

MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

l TROUBLE WITH CHEQUE. i Per Press Association. - BLENHEIM, June 8. “I do not think we will trouble the i Minister of Labour. 1 can find you suitable employment,” remarked Mr T. E. Maunsell, S.M., when John i Peris, a lmlf-caste negro with a substantia! list of previous convictions, produced in Court a letter signed by the Prime Minister, regretting the 1 position he was in and asking the Minister of Labour if he could find 1 him employment. Peris, who pleaded guilty to a charge of obtaining goods by means of a valueless cheque, was - sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment. 'l’lie police said accused came to Blenheim last Friday and obtained a fair amount of money from a number of good-hearted people. He then went to the Bank of New Zealand and deposited 10s, getting a cheque book and giving an undertaking to return later to deposit £3O which, lie claimed, he had made by cooking at a Public Works camp. He made out a cheque for £6 18s and procured fontwear to the value of £3 ISs. Inquiries showed that ho had not been employed oil the Public Works staff and hud deposited no further amount with the bank. At this stage accused produced the letter from the Premier, which was handed up to the Magistrate. In broken English lie said he had been drinking and suggested, that probation would be more good to him than imprisonment. The Magistrate remarked that it seemed that accused was sorting him out ns another victim for fraud but he had defrauded so many people that nothing he said could be believed.