GAVE HIMSELF UP

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 972, 15 May 1930, Page 12

GAVE HIMSELF UP

SEVEN BOGUS CHEQUES ISSUED HAD ONE BUSY MONTH Walter Joseph Bunting, who walked into the police station on Saturday morning and gave himself up, was charged at the police court this morning on seven counts of obtaining money by valueless cheques. The total amount involved was more than £4O. Accused was remanded for sentence until Saturday. Mr. Smyth appeared for Bunting, and entered pleas of guilty on all charges. The offences had been committed in August, four at Papatoetoe, one at Ohaewai, and two at Russell. Chief-Detective Hammond said accused had been sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment in 1928. He had come out last year, and soon started issuing valueless cheques. He had a car, and had obtained benzine and money from Butler’s garage at Papatoetoe. Travelling north, he had paid 30s taxi hire, and received £1 in money', by a valueless cheque issued to Ivan Pearson. At Russell he had obtained board and £ls 10s in money by valueless cheques ! from John Parker English. The total j amount involved was nearly £44.1 “Tho only thing I can say in his favour is that he gave- himself up,” added the chief-detective. “He is a married man with three children, and there is only one previous conviction against him.” Mr. Smyth said the only previous conviction against accused was for cattle-stealing, and that had been more or less of a commercial transaction. Bunting had come out of gaol on licence in May, 1929. When he issued the valueless cheques, the man had been drinking. “About five years ago he was kicked on the head by a horse, and he does foolish things when he is. drinking,” counsel explained. “Bunting has been working near Te Kuiti. Pl© was maintaining his wife and children at Hamilton, but be knew the police were looking for him, and it weighed on his conscience, so that ho gave himself up. He maintained his family all the time.” A Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M.: He got more than £4O by fraud in one month. Mr. Smyth: From your own experience, your Worship knows that money obtained like that doesn’t last long The Magistrate:. I don’t know—l have never got any money that 'wav myself. Counsel: X mean your worship has seen how it has been dissipated by others. Mr. Smyth assured the court that Bunting- could make restitution within three months, as he was earning £2 a day by crutch ing sheep. “I shall consult with the probation officer before deciding- what to do with him, decided the magistrate, making the remand until Saturday.