Magisterial.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 312, 14 May 1869, Page 3

Magisterial.

<fr. CHRISTCHURCH. This Day. (Before T. W. Maude, Esq., and hia Worship the Mayor.) False Pretences. — Charles Philis, who was committed for trial yesterday, on two charges of obtaining goods by means of what he knew to be valueless cheques, was again brought up for a similar offence. Henry C. West, landlord of the Shakespeare Hotel, Gloucester street, said the prisoner was at his house on Saturday last, and, after having a drink, wrote the cheque produced, and witness returned £2 19s in change. Witness presented it for payment at the Bank of New Zealand on thb Tuesday following, but it was not honoured, the account being closed. It was after bank hours when he received the cheque from prisoner. Directly after leaving the bank, witness met prisoner, when he told him that he was looking for him, and, in reply, prisoner said he had been looking for witness about the cheque, as he knew it was no good, and aßked him to wait until noon. Had prisoner looked for him, he would have had no difficulty in finding him. Witnesa waited till the time stated, but prisoner not calling upon him, he gave information to the police. Arthur Henry Westenra, ledger keeper at the Bunk of New Zealand, said prisoner had at one time an account at the bank, but it was closed a little before noon on Monday last. In closing it he remarked that he wanted to stop a cheque, but witness did not remember for what amount he stated it to be. On the day following, the cheque produced was presented by Mr West, but payment refused. Had the cheque been tendered on Saturday it would have been dealt with in the same way, as there was not sufficient to meet it, the balance to prisoner's credit being £2 10. Prisoner declined to make any statement, and wns comI mitted for trial. The Bench offered to accept bail of himself in £loo_and two others in £50 each.