FALSE PRETENCES CHARGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20584, 7 June 1930, Page 16

FALSE PRETENCES CHARGE.

CHEQUE FROM LEGAL FIRM. ALLEGATION AGAINST LABOURER A charge of obtaining £5 by false pretences from Messrs. Jackson, Russell, Tunks and West, with intent to defraud, was denied by Garrett Fitzgerald, aged 40, a labourer, in tho Police Court yesterday. Brian Kingston, an employee of tho firm, said that accused called at tho offico of Messrs. Jackson, liussell, Tunks and West, gave his name as Rupert King, saying that he had been sent to tho office by a Mrs. Craig. Ho asked to be given soino money. Witness, who had never seen Rupert King, gave accused a chequo for £5, which accused endorsed. The chequo was then cashed for him at tho office, and ho received tho amount in notes. A statement was later sent to tho real Mr. King, who had not received tho £5 with which ho had been debited, and he camo .to town to make inquiries. Witness said ho did not seo accused again until ho was walking down the street some nights ago, when he recognised tho man who had received the cheque and followed him into an hotel. He then communicated with tho police, and accused was taken in charge. Joseph James Murray, an expert in handwriting, said in his opinion tho endorsement was the same as a specimen of accused's handwriting.

Detective Power said ho interviewed accused on May 30, and obtained specimens of his handwriting. "I know nothing about it," said accused, who was remanded until to-day.