CHEQUES FORGED

Southland Times, Issue 21895, 22 December 1932, Page 11

CHEQUES FORGED

ENGINEER PLEADS GUILTY. (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, December 21. Frederick William Schluter, aged 42, an engineer who escaped from Mount Eden early this year, pleaded guilty in the Magistrate’s Court to-day to forging and uttering a cheque for £9O and two charges of theft. The offences were committed while he was at liberty. Mrs Meiklejohn, a boardinghouse keeper, gave evidence that accused went to her house under the name of Fogden and said he had no money. He showed a Post Office bank book with a credit of £52 odd. On July 11 she asked him to fix a hand bag which was broken. In it was her cheque book. Next day accused obtained a specimen of her writing and signature by getting her to write a letter to the City Council with reference to the hot water system. On July 21 she discovered a cheque for £9O had gone through her account. The signature was practically identical with her writing. Accused left on July 13. Detective McPhee said when accused was interviewed after his recapture he said he wanted to clear everything up and made a statement in which he admitted taking two blank cheques from Mrs Meiklejohn's book. He bought a motor cycle with some of the money and played pakapoo with the remainder, winning £B2. Accused was committed for sentence on the charge of being an incorrigible rogue in that he escaped from Mt. Eden and was remanded to Auckland. For two offences against the Arms Act in connection with unregistered rifles, committed in 1929, he was convicted and discharged.