POLICE COURT.

Waipa Post, Volume VII, Issue 329, 10 July 1914, Page 6

POLICE COURT.

THURSDAY, JULY 9TH, 1914. (Before MESSRS H. R. RYDER and H. J. Jones, J.’sP. H. M. Moore Jalias Muir, alias Graham, alias' Williamson), a middle-aged man, a native of Southern California, appeared at the local Police Court charged with (1) that he did, on the 27th day of June, 1914, at Te Awamutu, obta'n from Thomas C. Simes a pair of boots valued at 30s and £2 14s in cash, by means of certain false pretences, to wit, a valueless cheque ; and (2) that he did, on or about 26th June, IQI4, at Te Awamutu, unlawfully enter the premises of H. F. Solomon, and did steal therefrom a blank cheque form. Constable Lander conducted the case on behalf of the police. " F. C. Simes, bootmaker, Te Awamutu, stated that accused came into his shop on June 27th and purchased a pair of boots, being the ones he was now wearing. Accused tendered a cheque for £4 4s in payment. The cheque was drawn on the Union Bank of Australia, Te Awamutu, in favour of H. M. Moore, and signed Walter Higgins. Accused told witness that he had been ploughing for “‘Mr Higgins” on his farm, which was situated between Ohaupo and Te Awamutu, Witness cashed the cheque, chargingaccused 30s for the boots, and gave him £2 14s in change. The transaction took place on Saturday night. He had not seen accused since until that morning. On Monday witness took the cheque to the bank, and it was returned marked “No account.” Witness had only been in business in Te Awamutu some three months, and was not acquainted with several of the farmers, and he believed accused when he stated he had been working for Mr Higgins on the Ohaupo road. Walter Percival Newton, teller at the Union Bank of Australia, Te Awarputu,gave evidence as to having seen the cheque. It was presented for payment on the 29th ult., at the bank by T. C. Simes. Witness marked the cheque “No account” and returned it to Simes. No person of the name of Walter Higgins had an account at the Union Bank of Australia, Te Awamutu. Francis Howard Solomon, farmer, living at McGarry’s Avenue, Te Awamutu, said the cheque produced was from his cheque-book, being the last form in the book. He did not give the form to anyone, nor did he give anyone authority to take it from the book. He did not fill in the particulars now on the cheque. He usually kept the book in a cabinet in a back bedroom in his house, except when he had it out with him. He remembered Friday and Saturday, 26th and 27th June last. His house was unoccupied for some time on each of those days. The doors were closed but not locked. He did not know that anyone had been in his house during his absence, nor that the cheque form had disappeared until he had been interviewed by Constable Lander on 29th June. On examination he found that the whole cheque, including the butt, had been torn from the book.

James Richardson, farmer, who lives a short distance away from the last witness, remembered Saturday, 27th June. He saw Mr Solomon and his wife pass that 4 morning. He also saw a person very like accused coming from the direction of Mr Solomon’s house. He could not positively identify the man, but he was similar in appearance to accused.. The latter carried a bag similar to the one produced, and also wore a brown suit. He saw him going in the direction of Te Awamutu. Constable Lander stated the accused was arrested in Wellington on Monday last, and arrived back in Te Awamutu on Wednesday. Accused stated he intended to plead guilty to both charges. He had been drinking and did not know what he was doing when in that condition. The leather bag produced was the prisoner’s property, and was among his effects. Accused pleaded guilty to both charges, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. A further charge was preferred by the police against the accused with being a rogue and vagabond in that he did solicit alms or subscriptions under a false pretence, to wit by pretending to be deaf and dumb. Constable Lander stated that accused had been going from house to house, with packets of extract of soap, and obtaining help and sympathy, leading people to believe he was deaf and dumb. He had been previously convicted on five occasions, and was only discharged on June 17th. In answer to a question from the Bench prisoner said he arrived in New Zealand with the American fleet, and was a native of Southern California. Accused was sentenced to six months’ hard labour