FORGERY OF A CHEQUE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17145, 30 December 1929, Page 10

FORGERY OF A CHEQUE

TRIOK ON A PARTNER FORMER NEW ZEALANDER'S ORIME LONDON, Nov. 7. ■ Harold Duncan, 32, a traveller, who spent his childhood and youth in Christchurch, and who was employed in the National Bank of New Zealand, has had a temporary check in his career, and is to Spend six months in gaol. He was charged at the Manchester County Police Court on November 1, with stealing £2BO, the money of Frieda Herminia Wieden. , Mr. W- B-- W. Murray, who prosecuted, stated that Duncan was chanced on an extradition warrant. Mrs. Wieden had become acquainted with him, and the two decided to go into the silk stocking business at Manchester and Liverpool. A ioirit account/ was opened, into which each put £l5O. Afterwards Duncan presented to 'Mrs. Wiedon a chequo on the joint account marked with the word "two." He said it was for initial expenses. She did not notice that ho had not put in the word "pounds" after "two." Ho forged the chequo for drew the money from the joint account, and fled the country. He was arrested abroad, and since his return he had been rather peculiar. He had been under the care of the medical officer at/ Strangeways gaol, who considered that he was now able to understand the nature of J the charge. Chief Detective-Inspector Dunphy, by whom the accused was brought kick to England from Port Said, stated that the accused was horn in Edinburgh and taken as a child to Christch'urch, New 'Zealand. He had a good education, and at the age of 16 entered as a.junior clerk the National Bank of" New Zealand, re-1

maining in that employment until November of last year. For some reason unknown he left the bank, and after his departure it was found that he had gone to Durham. He had sent bankers' advice notes to Durban and other towns in South Africa- for £6OO each. At Durban he presented a false draft for £6OO, and drew the money from the Standard Bank of South Africa. He then sailed for England, and after visiting various parts of England and Scotland he made Airs. Wieden's acquaintance at, Manchester. In his, possession was £2OO in travellers' cheques and a. £1 note. Tho chairman said that Duncan would bo sentenced to six months' imprisonment. Out of the money in his possession £lO 7s would go for witnesses' expenses and 25 guineas to Mr. Murray as costs of the 'prosecution. The balance would be handed to the prosecutrix.