VALUELESS CHEQUES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3805, 15 February 1927, Page 18

VALUELESS CHEQUES.

VICTIM OF COCAINE. AUCKLAND, February 10. At the Police Court to-day John Francis Holcombe, aged 26, admitted that he obtained £lO from Rex M. Hoyes, a similar sum from William Edgar Webb and a further £lO from Messrs Spedding (Ltd.) with intent .to defraud by means of valueless cheques. Chief Detective Cummings commenced-to outlines accused’s, history since he . landed in the Dominion. ‘‘Holcombe arrived at Wellington from San Francisco in April of . last year, and was subsequently . employed by a large motor firm in that city,” said Mr Cummings. '“Shortly afterwards he got into trouble,, and was admitted to one year’s probation on two - charges of false pretenses. His employers allowed him to remain in their employ, but some time later they found him unsatisfactory and dismissed him. Accused then went to Gisborne. Opotiki and Rotorua. At Rotorua he represented that he was still with the Wellington firm, and inspected the stock in a garage, telling a story that he had run short of money.. He was given a che que which he filled in for £lO and cashed. At the other two places he did the same thing, and obtained £3O in all. In Auckland at one garage he visited, and represented that he was still in the employ of the Wellington firm, he took up half a day and put. the owners to a whole lot of trouble by inspecting the stock to ascertain whether there was a surplus. Then he went to a big hotel in Princes street, where the tariff is greater than |£l per day.” In addition to leaving Gisborne owing his landlady some money, accused had run up an account of about £26 at an hotel. “Have you anything to saj, Holcombe?” asked the magistrate. Waal, I guess I have got a little to say. I was a motion picture. director in .Hollywood and like most all the folks in the picture business I fell victim to taking cocaine or, as we call it,, “snow.’.’ My father, who is a banker, did not like me going into the motion picture business, so I kinda thought I would come, out here to New Zealand. I did all right until I got a letter containing some bad news from the folks at home. 1 met a man at the Midland Hotel, Wellington, who had some “snow,” and he gave me a couple of “decks.” I don’t know whether you know it, but “snow” makes one thinlr various things. It brings sleep and relaxation. • It made me think that I had a lot of money—that I was a Rockfeller —and so I went on.” Mr M'Kean: You were given a chance in Wellington, -you know, when you were placed on probation. You cannot be allowed to go on the way you have been Holcombe: I realise that I was given a chance in Wellington. I can make restitution of the £3O, but I do not want the folks at home to know about this trouble. The Magistrate then remanded accused until Saturday morning in. order to give him a chance to make restitution.