FALSE PRETENCES

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24104, 24 October 1941, Page 9

FALSE PRETENCES

SIXTEEN CHABGES YOUNG MAN ISSUES CHEQUES TERM OF DETENTION Sixteen charges of obtaining money by false pretences through the issue of valueless cheques were admitted by Stanley Arnold Nicholson, dealer, aged 27 (Mr. Noble), before Mr. J. Morling, S.M., yesterday. Accused also pleaded guilty to the theft of a wireless set valued at £l4 19s 6d, the property of Frank Wiseman, Limited. The charges showed that accused issued cheques totalling £147 l~s between September 17 and October 4. Detective-Sergeant Nalder said that 011 September 16 accused went to an Otahuhu bank, gave the name of Mitchell and said Tie was a hairdresser at Ramarama. He deposited £0 and received a cheque book containing 24 cheque forms. The following day lie issued a number of cheques for small amounts which were honoured, but he then issued one lor £lO knowing that he did not have the funds to meet it. A few days later be went to another Otahuhu bank, gave the name of Wallace, said he was a stock dealer, and deposited £4, receiving another cheque book. From then on he issued cheques 011 both accounts but made 110 iurther deposits. "These offences were very deliberate and there is no doubt accused issued the cheques with the purpose of defrauding these people," Mr. Nalder added. No money had been recovered and he had caused a lot of inconvenience to tradespeople. Dealing with the theft of the wireless set, Mr. Nalder said accused obtained the instrument on approval, pawned it for £2 and then disappeared from Auckland. "He has a bad criminal record and was only released from prison on licence 011 March 25. committing the radio theft on March 28," Mr. Nalder said. "It shows that lie had no intention of living an honest life." Mr. Noble said it was extraordinary that accused should think he could "get away with this sort of thing" and. as counsel, be could only throw accused on the mercy of the Court. ( In sentencing accused to two years reformative detention, the magistrate commented upon his "bad list, features of which were fraud and stealing.