POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19459, 15 October 1926, Page 15

POLICE COURT NEWS.

VALUELESS CHEQUES ISSUED "SAILING CLOSE TO WIND." " Those offences were committed more by foolishness than with any criminal intent," said Mr. Martelli in the Police Court yesterday on behalf of Ernest Hodge, aged 31, who was charged with obtaining cigarettes valued at 2s, and £1 18s in money by means of a valueless cheque and with obtaining goods valued at £1 6s Id, and £2 by means of a valueless cheque. Counsel added that accused had made full restitution of the money and was now in a permanent position. He had an account at the bank and he did not issue the cheques vrith any intention of defrauding. " He has been sailing pretty close to the wind," said Senior-Detective Hammond when the magistrate, Mr. Hunt, asked if anything was previously known about accused. A fine of £5 was imposed on the first charge, and accused was convicted and discharged on tho second charge, CHARGES DISMISSED. Three charges of receiving sums aggregating £9 2s and fraudulently failing to account for tho money, were preferred against George Beckett (Mr. Luxford). It was stated accused was employed as a canvasser and collector by a suburban firm, and it was alleged the three amounts wore collected by him and were not handed in. V Counsel submitted that the evidence was not sufficient to warrant a conviction, and asked that the charges should be dismissed. The magistrate, in dismissing tho information, said the evidence did not warrant him in entering a conviction. A SERIOUS CHARGE. Joseph Patrick O'Neill, aged 29, denied a charge of indecently assaulting a male. He was committed to tho Supreme Court for trial, bail being fixed at £250. A CHARGE OF THEFT. A charge of breaking and entering the warehouse of Dearsleys, Limited, about September 16, and stealing a number of men's and women's shoes, a pair of rubber heels, and a suitcase, of a total value of £73 15s 3d, was preferred against Cecil Raymond Browne, aged 23, in the Police Court yesterday. On the application of Senior-Detective Hammond, accused was remanded until October 21.