AFTER FIVE YEARS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 31, 6 February 1935, Page 9

AFTER FIVE YEARS

ACCUSED MAN SURRENDERS BACK FROM AUSTRALIA DESIRE TO MAKE FRESH START. After an absence of live years in Australia, William Arthur Pitts returned to Christ,church five weeks ago and surrendered himself to the police to answer charges of obtaining money by false pretences in November, 1929. The total amount was £36 19s 7d, and accused admitted the two charges before Mr. E. D t Mosley, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court last Tuesday. He said he wished to get the charges cleared up so that he could make a fresh start. Pirtts, whose age is 3 1 and who is described as a labourer, admitted charges of obtaining in November, 1929, at Kirwee, about £.15 from Edward Alfred Gillman by means of a valueless cheque and of obtaining petrol valued at 10s 5d and £2l 19s 7u in money from Samuel E eplions by pre senting a valueless cheque. Chief-Detective W. H. Dunlop stated that accused had returned from Australia and volunteered information about himself and the charges against him.

Edward Alfred Gillman, licensee of the Kirwee Hotel, said that accused had called at his hotel on November 6, 1929, and said that his name was James and that he was travelling for the Ceylon Tea Company, Dunedin, lie had a drink or two, and then witness cashed his cheque, which was returned marked “no account” from the bank. Witness had not seen accused since. Samuel Stephens, a storekeeper at Waddington, said that accused called on him and represented that he was travelling for the Ceylon Tea Company Dunedin. Witness supplied him with five gallons of petrol, for which he cashed a cheque for £22 10s, taking 10s 5d for the petrol. The cheque was returned marked “'no account” from the bank. Constable C. D. Burns said that on IDecember 29 last accused surrendered himself to the police to answer charges of issuing valueless cheques. He had arrived back in New Zealand from Australia that morning. He had left for Australia two days after commit ting the offences. In his statement, accused described and admitted the offences. At the time they were committed he was a salesman and was unemployed. Accused had one previous conviction for false pretences. Apparently he had had “a pretty hectic time” in Australia. Accused pleaded guilty to both charges and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Bail was allowed.