WOULD “CLEAN UP” NORTH ISLAND WITH VALUELESS CHEQUES

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6910, 16 May 1929, Page 6

WOULD “CLEAN UP” NORTH ISLAND WITH VALUELESS CHEQUES

One Man Arrested TWO OTHERS MAKE CLEAN BREAK NEW PLYMOUTH TRADESMEN DEFRAUDED. Per Press Association. NEW PLYMOUTH, Last Night. 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 N6rth Island was unfolded at the police Court this morning when Leslie Charles Bourk, one of the trio whose operations were cut short last week, appeared on remand before Mr. Tate, S. on four charges of obtaining goods and money by this means. He went to a jeweller’s shop where hu purchased a fountain pen for £2 2s 6d, tendering a cheque for £lO and received tho balance in cash. Goods were also purchased at a drapery establishment for £1 14s where another £lO cheque was cashed. Next attention was given to a hairdresser where he made purchase of goods to the value of 15s tendering a cheque for £5. _ 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 fid and receiving change for a cheque for £o. Bourk was quite frank and gave the police the wholo 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 cheque was paid to him on account of wages. Tho senior-sergeant said defendant was in Christchurch on May Ist when he mot two men named Hill and Shaw who both had previous convictions. Hill's, real name was Thomas. They told him 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 somo 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 ono down each side of the 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 three cheques had been passed by fine 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 iu 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 pievions convictions against Bourk, but not of this kind. Accused pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six months hard’ labour.