YOUNG MAN ADMITS GUILT

Taranaki Daily News, 2 June 1927, Page 5

YOUNG MAN ADMITS GUILT

VALUELESS CHEQUES USED FALSE PRETENCES AND FORGERY. COMMITTAL FOR SENTENCE. Charged with forging the name of A. J, Old to a cheaue for £l5 drawn on the Bank of Australasia at New Plymouth, dated February 21, 1927, and with obtaining, with intent to defraud, the sum of £lO 10s from Helen Patterson at Eltham, by means of a valueless cheaue for £l2 12s drawn on the Bank of New South Wales, Inglewood, signed W. G. Assell, and payable to A. Williams, a young man named fleeter Vernon I’enwarden was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence when he pleaded guilty at the New Plymouth Magistrate’s Court yesterday before Mr. R. W. Tate, S.M. Accused had gone to the shop of E. G. Pearce, tailor, New Plymouth, about February 7 and ordered a suit of clothes. When asked for a deposit he said he had nothing at the time, said Pearce in evidence, but if witness had the suit ready for a fitting in about a fortnight he would then pay half the amount. Accused returned about February 18 for the fitting and handed witness cheque produced, asking for a receipt for £5 and . £lO change. FORGERY OF THE NAME DETECTED. This was given, accused explaining that the cheque was from Mr. Old, of Sentry Hill. Witness knew Mr. Old, and was therefore willing to accept the cheque. Accused endorsed it in witness’ presence. When lie paid the cheque into the bank on February 21, it was returned “signature unlike.” Pearce did not see the accused again, as he did not return for the suit. Accused had explained to witness that Mr. Old had dated the cheque the 21st as he would be short of funds until the 20th, when the factory cheque fell due. Norman Frederick Chamberlain, accountant at the Bank of Australasia, New Plymouth, said the cheque produced, signed by A. J. Old, who had an account at the bank, was handed in at the bank on February 21 and was returned marked “signature unlike.” The form was one of a book issued to Thomas James on October 6, 1926. On May 4 Penwarden had gone to the Eltham Hotel, Eltham, said Helen Patterson, the wife of the licensee, and had booked accommodation for a week, giving the name of Williams. The accused was then lame, explaining that he had a withered bone in his leg which was being treated by Dr. Steven, of Stratford. On Sunday, May 8, Penwarden had asked witness to cash a cheque for £l2 drawn on the Inglewood bank. She had asked whether she would keep the amount of board out of it, and he had assented. She therefore gave him £lO 10s. The next day he left the hotel. When the cheque had been paid into the bank at Eltham it was returned marked “no account.” She did not see the accused again and reported the matter to the police. NO AUTHORITY TO SIGN CHEQUE. Allan James Old, farmer, Sentry Hill, said he had an account at the Bank of Australasia at New Plymouth. The Signature on the cheque produced was not his. He thought it was Penwarden’s handwriting. Accused had no authority to sign a cheque with witness’ name. Accused had been employed by witness until July, 1926, and had called on witness last February on three dnferent occasions. Accused had given no trouble when working on the place, nor had he given any indication of doing this sort of thing. Detective Meiklejohn interviewed Penwarden on May 21, when the latter made signed statements regarding the offence, saying he wished to get the matter cleared up with the least possible trouble. The detective said he did not know' accused prior to his arrest by the Waverley police. Accused plea-ded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court’ at Wellington for sentence. Detective Meiklejohn explained that there were charges pending at Wanganui and asked for a remand to that city.