Scheme Exposed of Systematic Fraud

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 663, 15 May 1929, Page 11

Scheme Exposed of Systematic Fraud

THREE MEN AT WORK ARREST BREAKS ALLIANCE Press Association NEW PLYMOUTH. Today. The story of a. systematic scheme for defrauding' tradespeople by the passing of valueless cheques by three men, who set out from Christchurch to cover the North Island, was unfolded in the Police Court this morning when Leslie Charles Bourk, one of the trio, whose operations were cut short last week, appeared on remand before Mr. R. W. Tate, S.M., on four charges of obtaining goods and money. Bourk went to a jewellers shop where he purchased a fountain pen fpr £2 2s 6d, tendering a cheque for £lO and receiving the balance in cash. Goods were also purchased at a drapery establishment for £1 14s, where another £lO cheque was cashed. Next attentions were given to a hairdresser, where he made a purchase of goods valued at 15s, tendering a cheque for £5. A man who was in the shop at the time remembered seeing another man cashing a cheque in anothr shop on the opposite side of the street a little earlier. Bourk was followed and found in a well-known clothing establishment fitting himself out with a cardigan pullover at a co,st of 19s 6d, and receiving the change from a cheque for £5. Bourk was quite frank, and gave the police the whole story of the scheme since he had come into it. The amount involved in his New Plymouth transactions was £3O, goods to a total value of £5 11s being purchased, and cash received amounting to £24 9s. Cheques were all drawn on the Bank of Australasia, Christchurch, by one Aubrey, and made payable to “Mr. T. A. Russell,” and accused carried a letter setting out that the cheque was paid to him on account of wages.

A senior sergeant said that defend - and was in Christchurch on May 1, with two men named Hill and Shaw, who both had previous convictions. Hill’s real name was Thomas. They told him they had been passing valueless cheques in Christchurch and were going to “clean up the North Island,” and he agreed to join them. They “did some business” in Wellington anil Wanganui, and reached New Plymouth on May 5. Next day Thomas gave Shaw ana Bourk six cheques, and sent them ott, one down each side of the mam street. Twelve cheques had been drawn, eight for £lO and each of the others for £5. When arrested Bourk had £l7 on him. So far as can be ascertained three cheques were passed by the man on the opposite side of the street. Bourk’s arrest caused the other two men to make a clean breakaway. Bourk had nothing to do with the operations in Christchurch, where it is understood a cheque book was taken from a house which was broken into by one of the others. There were some previous convictions against Bourk, but not of this kind. Accused pleaded guilty and the magistrate postponed sentence. Bourk was sentenced to six months imprisonment with hard labour.