VALUELESS CHEQUES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 179, 1 August 1933, Page 9

VALUELESS CHEQUES

SERIES OF OFFENCES YOUNG MEN CONVICTED TWELVE MONTHS’ IMPRISONMENT Three charges of intent to defraud by issuing valueless cheques were admitted by Ernest Robert Murray, and four by George Alechan at the Magistrate’s Court at Wanganui yesterday morning. They were each sentenced to 12 mouths’ imprisonment, to be served at the Now Plymouth gaol. Detective J. Walsh said that both had to answer eight similar charges at New Plymouth, while at Palmerston North. Mechau had already been sentenced to six mouths’ imprisonment for the same offence. The charges at Wanganui were that they obtained goods and money to a value of £7 10s from M»cGfuer’s, Ltd., two watches and money from W. R. Fitchett, valued at £l2 10s, two overcoats from Hill and Hoar valued at £5 12s 6d and 17s in money. Aleehau was also charged with obtaining two suitcases and £2 5s in cash from G. Coul] ’s. The men arrived in Wanganui on June 26 and, while in the city visited four premises and issued four cheques to a total value of £29 10s, receiving goods and money to that amount. They then left Wanganui and went to Palmerston North, where Meehan committed another similar offentee. He had been before the Court at Palmerston North and had been sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. “Both men are wanted at New Plymouth, where there are eight similar offences pending against them,” continued the detective. In respect to the watches procured from Fitchett, the pawnbroker had no objection to their being returned, provided ho was reimbursed. B >th men were 28 years of age, and single. They had been before the Court before, Aleehau being convicted of theft and sentenced to six weeks’ imprisonment and Murray to two years’ reformative detention in 1930 at Blenheim, and in 1932 to six weeks’ imprisonment for theft at Rotorua. “I will deal with the cases, of course, purely upon the offences committed at Wanganui, but I have to take into consideration the previous offences, uot only at Palmerston North, but before that,” said Air J. H. Salmon, S.M., in imposing a sentence. “On the major charge both accused will be convicted and sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment, concurrent with the term now being served. On the other charges they will be convicted and discharged.” An order was made for the return of the two watches.