POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14004, 9 March 1909, Page 7

POLICE COURT NEWS.

ALLEGED VALUELESS CHEQUES. CHARGES OF FALSE PRTENCES. At the Police Court yesterday, before Messrs. T. Peacock and J. S. Dickson, J.P.'s, a middlo-agcd man named George Carl Adrian appeared in answer to a chargo of having obtained £2 by false pretences from Joseph Robinson, licenseo of thoGrosvenor Hotel, by means of a valueless cheque, and with, at a different time, of having obtained 10s from tho same man by another valueless cheque. ■ He was also further charged with having obtained £2 from Joseph Dominick Fischer, licensee of the Britomart Hotel, by means of a valueless cheque. He pleaded not guilty, and was defended by Mr. Singer, Accused, who described himself as a music teacher, was alleged to have gono to Sir. Robinson's hotel and asked what tho terms wore. He was informed that the terms were 35s a wcok. The next morning he gave Mr. Robinson a cheque for £2 5s for a week's board, and Sir. Robinson gave him 10:5 change. The cheque was drawn on tho Opotiki branch of the Bank of New Zealand, and Mr. Robinson immediately wired to Opotiki to see if the cheque was good. He got no reply for about a week, and tho bank then sent, hack word that the chcquo was unprovided for. In the meantime accused had told Mr. Robinson that he had made £15 commission in one day by the sale of pianos, and on the strength of this Mr. Robinson cashed a further cheque for £2, which in due course was returned dishonoured. Subsequently accused took a cheque to Mr. Fischer, of the Britomart. Hotel, for £2, also drawn on tho Opotiki branch of the Bank of New Zealand, which Mr. Fischer cashed. This chcquo was also dishonoured.

Messrs. Robinson and Fischer gave evidence as to accused's visits to their respective hotels, and the cashing of tho cheques.

■ A clerk in the Bank of New Zealand at Opotiki gave evidence to the etfcct that, accused's credit balance at the beginning of December amounted to £11 19s 6d, and a number of cheques had been cashed since that date. There was only 4s 6d remaining to. accused's credit on December 31. No provision had been made with the bank that witness knew of for the overdrawing of accused's account. Detective Scott stated that accused had told him that it would be all right when ho got back to Opotiki. Witness read a statement which had been, signed by accused, that ho had drawn cheques on his account amounting to £37 odd. Witness had arrested accused on February 16. Accused had told him that a number of the cheques ho had drawn had been returned dishonoured, but he had arranged for them to be presented again when they would be all right. Accused pleaded not guilty, and reserved his defence. He was committed to the Supreme Court, for trial. Bail was allowed, two sureties of £50 or one in £100, and self in £100. MISCELLANEOUS. John Denny, a young man, pleaded not guilty to. a charge of having stolen a canary and a cage valued at £1 ss, the property of J9IIII Coutta. He was rcmandod for a week, bail being allowed, one surety in £20 and self in £20. Two first offender? were convicted and discharged for drunkenness, and a ; third, who did not appear, was convicted arid ordered to forfeit, the amount of his bail. Robert Sullivan, for being drunk on the Hobson-street Wharf on Saturday, was fined 10s, 'in default 48 hours. Annie Dunn, an elderly female, was charged with having been drunk on tho Hobsonstreet Wharf, and with having used insulting language in a public place. She pleaded guilty to both charges, and stated that she had only been disehargod from gaol on Saturday morning, and was only out for a few hours. She pleaded very ; hard for another chance. Fines of 10s. in default 48 hours' imprisonment, on the first charge, and of £3 or a month's imprisonment on the second, were inflicted. Job Lilley for drunkenness was fined 10s, in default 48 hours.

Gordon Digram, a young man, was charged with having used obscene language in a public road at Newmarket. Ho plead-' ed not guilty, and was defended by Sir. Singer. After hearing the # evidonce, in which accused and two of his companions admitted having bad 10 or-12 drinks on the day in question, the Bench held the charge proved, and accused was fined £3 or in do- j fault one month's imprisonment. • William Wilton was charged with drunkenness, and with having no lawful visible means of supDort.. He stated that ho had only done three, days' work sinco Christmas, although he had been looking for work. Sub-Inspector Hendrey stated that drink was responsible for his position. Accused was convicted and fined 10s or 24 hours for being drunk, and was sentenced to one month's imprisonment on the other charge. > ( James Bottomloy, for being drunk and disorderly in Queen-street, was fined 10s, in default 24 hours. , Michael Stcnson, for drunkenness, who had been on remand for a week, was convicted and discharged on payment of 17s 6d costs.