“WANTED.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19889, 4 March 1920, Page 6

“WANTED.”

A STRING OF CHARGES. HABITUAL CRIMINAL'S WILY WAYS. An extensive tour of New Zealand lies ahead of a “wanted” man who appeared before Air V. G. Day, S-M., in the Magistrate’s Court this morning. Francis Roy Barry, alias Burry, alias John Henry Withers, alias Walker, alias Beasley, alias Willis, alias Williams. alias John Henry Walters, alias Watkins, a middle-aged man, was charged with false pretences on four counts, viz., obtaining at Oarcarn on February 21 from Albert Sallis goods v’ahicd n't 9s 3d, and £3 10s in money, by means of a valueless cheque on tin; National Bank of New Zealand; attempting to obtain from Booth and Co. goods to tiio value of £4 9s Gd by moans of a valueless cheque on the Bank ol Australasia, Woodville; obtaining from Louisa Matilda Gregory £4 10s by means of a valueless cheque; obtaining £2 10s from Harold W. Frost, a dentist, at Wellington, by moans of a valueless cheque on the Bank of Australasia, Tniiraanmui. • Chiol-Detcctive M’llveney said that on February 24 accused went into Gregory s sweet, shop in Cashel Street and ordered goods to the value of £lO 10s. in payment for which he tendered a cheque for £ls, and received £4 10s in change. The goods were nob handeri over then, but accused said he would call lor them later- Meanwhile the woman in charge of the shop became suspicious, and made inquiries about the cheque, which she found not negotiable; Confronted with it when ho returned, accused said he had forgotten to cross out ‘‘Christchurch '' on it. ana in tho woman's presence wrote “Woodville” in its place, saving that he had money in the Woodville bank. The goods were not delivered, and accused then went to Heath’s and tendered the same cheque in an endeavour to got more money. _ Meanwhile the police wore making inquiries. The policfi found that accused was identical with a man named Withers continued Chief-Detective MTlvenev' and that he was “wanted” for false pretences committed in various parts of New Zealand. The amounts and the places involved wore: Feilding, £5; VVoqdville, £2 9s Gd; Taihape, 15s; Moliiimton, £2 10s; Palmerston North. ~o0; Masterton. £1 13s; Waverfev, £o0; Auckland, £3l 9s lOd. The man had a very had criminal record. He had twenty convictions of false pretences and four of forgery, had served a sentence of throe years’ and two sentences of two years, and had been deetared an Habitual criminal. He was released on probation in 1918, and re?uui . ro " u^ r b' till the beginning ot 1919, since when he had committed'the offences with which lie was now charged He could only ho dealt with in respect of the local charges, and would hare -nir ■ a h n / olUK i, to other places and tried later. Three at least of the cw ’ ou avo t0 gOIO tho 6,, P remc fir ;\ cc lf cl w , l ’ o Pleaded guilty to the first three charges, was sentenced to , im P ri sonmeni on each tin 1 rb t T ntenr . es to he cumulative. n the last charge he was remanded to appear at Wellington on March 11.