WORTHLESS CHEQUES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 302, 22 December 1945, Page 6

WORTHLESS CHEQUES

ISSUED BY MAN RELEASED ON PRISON LICENCE

EIGHTEEN’ COUNTS ADMITTED SENT BACK FOR TWO YEARS "Having graduated through the Children’s Court and the Borstal, your criminal record really dates back to 1938,” said Mr. J. H. Salmon, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court Wanganui, yesterday, when sentencing Freuerick John William Clark, labourer, aged 29, to terms of imprisonment totalling Iwo years. He had pleaded guilty to issuing a series of valueless cheques in Taumarunui, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, Kaikoura, New Plymouth and Waitara. Tnere were i 7 charges or falsely representing that valueless cheques were valid, and one oi obtaining credit by fraud from a Taumarunui taxi driver by handing over a cheque lor £7 10s which was subsequent iy dishonoured. Sergeant W. J. Brown (Marton) prosecuted, and Detective-Sergeant J. K. Robertson (Wanganui) outlined the circumstances of tne o lienees committed in Taranaki. Mr. J. S. D. Tizard appeared lor accused. Accused was released from prison on October 9, last, and went to Taumarunui, where he was employed as a tab biter, said Sergeant Brown. In November Clark opened an account with the Bank ot New South Wales in. Taumarunui, but was later warned that it was nearly overdrawn. On November 26. however, he hired a taxi and hanaed the driver a valueless cheque lor £7 10s. He subsequently went to Palmerston North anti while on a.drinking bout came into possession ol anotner man s cheque book Alter a period in Marton accused went to Wellington where he issued foui cheques which were dishonoured obtaining goods with some of them. He later went to Nelson, where he met a young woman and purchased an engagement ring for 120, handing over a worthless.cheque in payment. While in Nelson he also passed oh two more cheques. WEDDING KiNGBOI C UT.

Accompanied by the young woman, accused left Nelson on December i tor the races in Christchurch. When the service car stopped at Kaikoura, nowever, he called at a jeweller’s shop and bought a wedding ring for £2 us 6d. again passing over a cheque. Four more cheques were disposed ol Christchurcn, after which accused returned to the North island and came to Marton. He was endeavouring to pass off another valueless cheque fur £3 to a man in an hotel when he cafie under the notice of the Martun police and was arrested. "He nas been in a 10l of trouble in the past and there is nothing i can say in his favour,” Sergeant Brown added.

The magistrate: 1 see that he is oui on licence.

Sergeant Brown: At present he is on licence from prison, but that licence was thrown out the porthole ol the ship going to Nelson. It s somewhere in Cook Strait.

Detective-Sergeant Robertson saic the story of the Taranaki oiiences was somewhat similar. On November 26 accused obtained clothing valued at 19 7s and £2 12s in casn frdm Gardner, Ltd., Taumarunui, by handing 1 over a valueless cheque lor ill 19s. . On November 28, in New Plymouth, he bought rabbit traps from Newton, : King, Ltd., handing over a cheque lor ’ £l4 9s and receiving £5 in cnange. 1 Next day he went to Waitara and purchased more rabbit traps from New- , ton, King, Ltd., this time handing over 1 a cheque for £25 and receiving £3 4s 6d in change. Accused also went to the Farmers’ Co-op. in Waitara and handed over a cheque for £l5 for the purchase of rabbit traps, receiving £3 12s 6d in change. Tne rabbit traps were not delivered, however, and some which were placed on a train were subsequently removed. While in Wai-, tara accused stayed at an hotel and obtained £3 from William James Bates by cashing a valueless cheque. “ORGY OF CHEQUES.” "It may be difficult to say muth in accused s favour, but when this orgy oi cheques was started he did have an account in the bank ?.t Taumarunui said Mr. Tizard. "He informs me that money was due to him from sale oi rabbn skins and that further funds would come in, but he realised that he was writing cheques for more than he could meeu. Tne loss on persons taking the cheques was not as severe as it might have been, in some cases the goods were retained by the vendors. Counsel added that accused blamed his lapse to a drinking bout in Palmerston North from wnich he did not recover lor some days. As a result he became reckless in -the extreme. Reviewing accused's previous convictions, the magistrate said that Hatting back to 1908 he had a long nsi for then and xaise pretences loiiowed Dy a conviction lor bigamy in the Supreme Court, Wanganui, in Feoruat j of this year. Un that occasion he was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment, but was released on licence before the let in expired. ‘1 must impose a substantial term, the magistrate added. "Some ol me offences are extremely heartless. T he purchasing ol a ring in Nelson lor £2U is probably the most serious oi all. Un this charge, and others o£ obtaining goc-us in Wellington valued at £9, accused was sentenced to 12 month;, imprisonment in each case, the term to be' cumulative. On the remaining counts fie was con vic led and discharged.