THE CRIMINAL SESSIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18089, 13 May 1922, Page 7

THE CRIMINAL SESSIONS.

FALSE PRETENCE AND FRAUD.

VALUELESS CHEQUES ISSUED The criminal sessions of the Auckland Supreme Court were continued yesterday. Five charges of having obtained goods by fahse pretences and erne of having obtained credit by fraud were denied by Albert Charles Thomas Lunb (Mr. Singer), who appeared before Mr. Justice Herdman and a jury of 12. ♦Mr. S. L. Patterson, %ln opening the case for the Crown, said the series of frauds alleged against .vcused extended over six months. In June last accused opened a bank ac,".ount at Tanmanmui under the name of A. C. Wilson. He paid in about £120 and then issued cheques totalling about £500 more than he had deposited. He obtained goods to the vain© of nearly £100 by using valueless cheques and representing that he had a business at Taumarunui. Evidence was given by several witnesses from whom accused had obtained goods that the cheques they had received had been returned from the bank marked " not sufficient finds." Evidence was given that after accused had been told that one of his cheques had been dishonoured he continued to issue cheques. After a retirement of 10 minutes, th<> jury found the accused guilty, and he was remanded for sentence.

VEEDICT OP HOT GUILTY.

QUESTION O.F IDENTIFICATION. A charge of breaking and entering with intent, to steal from a sheet metal fr.ctory, owned by Wenzenberg and Loftus, in Nelson Street, was made against William Knox (Mr. Quartley). Frederick Charles Wenzenberg, a member of the firm, Baid he was sleeping on the premises, and on the, morning of February 12. he was awakened shortly after 7 o'clock by an unusual noise. On investigating he saw a man forcing open a door and entering the factory. Witness spoke and the man ran away. Witness secured the services of a constable, and accused was arrested. Witness identified him as the man who had broken into the premises. The case relied on,the identification of the accused. After a short retirewent, the jury returned a verdict of net guilty, and the accused was discharged.

ADMISSION OF THEFT.

REMANDED FOR SENTENCE. Arthur Ludgreen pleaded guilty to the theft of a brief bag and contents valued at £4 Bs, and was remanded for sentence.

In the report published yesterday of the case in which Clinton Frederick Wells was acquitted of the charge of attempted rape on the ground that no case had been made for the prosecution it was stated that the complainant broke down under crossoxamination. This was intended to convey the fact that her evidery.e was discredited in cross-examination by Mr. Singer. v

PRISONERS SENTENCED.

A SERIES OF CHARGES.

THREE YEARS' IMPRISONMENT.

Two prisoners were brought before Mr. Justice Herdman for sentence at the Supreme Court yesterday. Charles John Williams, who was found guilty of unlawful carnal knowledge, horse siealine and forgery and false pretences was severely by the Judge for his crime against a young girl under 16. His Honor commented upon the fact that nrkoner had taken advantage of friendshin and hospitality. Prisoner was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for unlawful carnal knowledge and one year on each of the other charges, the sentences to bfl concurrent.

FINE OF £30 IMPOSED. ,

SALE. OF INDECENT PICTURES. For having sold indecent pictures, Barney Elias (Mr. Singer), a hairdresser, was fined £30, in default three months' imprisonment, being allowed three months in which to pay the fine.