“A HOPELESS CASE”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19325, 2 June 1925, Page 7

“A HOPELESS CASE”

OLD MAN’S EXCUSE FOR BREAKING THE LAW PLEADS GUILTY TO FALSE PRETENCES. “I am in a state of ill-health through heart disease, and my case is considered hopeless by the hospitals. That is the reason why I committed the offences,” remarked an elderly man named Charles McDonald, when he was charged at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning, before Mr J. 8. Barton, S.M., with (1) On May 25 at Wanganui, with intent to defraud, he did obtain a watch, valued at £5 from William Helcan by means of a valuoless cheque drawn on the Bank of New Zealand at Palmerston North, and (2) On the same date at Bulls he did obtain £5 in money from Chas. Price by means of a valueless cheque drawn on the Union Bank of Australasia. Detective Gourlay conducted the case for the prosecution. The first witness, William Helean, jeweller, of Wanganui, recognised the accused as being the man who called at his shop on May 25 last, and expressed the desire to purchase a good watch. The accused selected a watch valued at £5 from a tray that witness produced, and asked for a blank Bank of New Zealand cheque. Witness replied that he did not bank with the Bank of New Zealand, and the accused asked him to let him have one of his cheques. Witness said he did not care to do it, but the accused assured him that it was quite all right and the signature was the main thing. The Magistrate: That was a very true statement, anyway! Continuing, witness said he eventually produced a cheque, which the accused signed: “C. McDonald.” Even then he was not satisfied, but the old man said it was quite all right, as ho was well known in Palmerston North and had just sold a nice little farm. The cheque was made out for the sum of £lO, but witness did not pay out the change on it. He subsequently discovered that the accused did not possess an account with the Bank, of New Zealand. Detective Revell deposed that on May 27 last he interviewed the accused, when the latter made a statement admitting he had secured the watch knowing that the cheque he used was valueless. He also explained that he handed the watch over to another jeweller, and on the strength of it borrowed 30s. The accused pleaded guilty to the first charge, and was committed for sentence to the Supreme Court at Dunedin. On the second count he was remanded to appear at Palmerston North on Friday, June 5.