VALUELESS CHEQUE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23227, 22 December 1938, Page 17

VALUELESS CHEQUE

CRIME OF NINE YEARS AGO SUSPENDED SENTENCE [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Wednesday An offence of nine years' standing was responsible for the appearance of Ernest Allison Roddis, aged 58, greenkeeper and labourer, before Air. J. L. Stout, S.M: He pleaded guilty to obtaining £2 16s 5d from Elsie Johnson, storekeeper, by means of a valueless cheque for £3 12s on October 25, 1929, and was ordered to come up for sentence if called on within six .months. In outlining the facts, DetectiveSergeant Doyle mentioned that accused issued six other valueless cheques, but for some reason or other only one information was laid at the time, and, considering the lapse of time, it was not thought further action was warranted. When interviewed, accused frankly admitted the facts. He had a fairly formidable list. Mr. Evans Scott, for accused, made a strong plea for Roddis to be given a chance to rehabilitate himself. His previous lapses, he said, occurred in four groups, and accused might be said to have been in trouble on only four previous occasions. Ho had overcome his weakness for drink and felt that in overcoming that he had overcome his criminal tendencies. He submitted that the interests of the public would not be served by the imposition of a prison term. Restitution of £3 12s was made a condition of the sentence.