LAW'S LONG ARM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23689, 22 December 1938, Page 8

LAW'S LONG ARM

NINE-YEAR-OLD OFFENCE ISSUING VALUELESS CHEQUES (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, Dec. 21. An offence of nine years' standing was responsible for the aopearance of Ernest Allison Roddis, aged 38, greenkeeper and labourer, before Mr J. L. Stout, S.M. He pleaded guilty to obtaining £2 16s 5d from Elsie Johnson, storekeeper at Hope, Nelson, by means of a valueless cheque for £3 12s on October 25, 1929, and was ordered to come up for sentence if called within six months.

Outling the facts, Detective Sergeant Doyle mentioned that the accused had 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 that further action was warranted. When interviewed the accused frankly admitted tht facts He had a fairly formidable list.

Mr Evans Scott, for the accused, made a strong plea that Roddis be given a change to rehabilitate himself The previous lapses had occurred in four groups, and the accused might be said to have been in trouble on only four previous occasions. He had overcome his weakness for drink and felt that in overcoming that he had overcome his criminal tendencies Counsel submitted that the interests of the public would not be served b> the imposition of a term of imprisonment. Restitution of the £3 12s was made a condition of the sentence.