A VALUELESS CHEQUE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 45, Issue 13856, 12 June 1919, Page 5

A VALUELESS CHEQUE.

ISSUED TO FRUITERER

acccsed comai it-ted for sen-

tence

Duncan McKay, :i middle-aged man, was charged at the Masterton Police Court this morning, before -Mr >S. L. P. Free, >S.M., with issuing :i valueless cheque, to the value of .£."). tu Frank Btaius, on June .'!rd. Mr I\. MVKenzie appeared for accused. Frank Stains, fruiterer, said lie had known McKay for about two years. He was a customer at witness's fruit shop. About a month ago McKay borrowed £1 oft' witness, saying lie. wanted io see a doctor. On June '■'■">] McKay niel witness in front of Ihi- shop an>l presented the cheque produced. Witness said lie did not think h' , i• o:11.i c;:/-h it, ami to try Mr Fly. .McKay said in- had tried Fly, but ho did not have change. Witness then went into the shop, and accused said, il Ciivt> me what you can, as I want to go to the trots."-' Witness gave him £4, and. accused said, ''That will make us square." The following morning accused called in and asked for the loan of a pound, as he had. gutsome bad drink at the trots, and he Avanied to go to Carted on to get a bottle of whisky. About mi d-d ay on the -ith witness took the cheque to the Hank of X.S.W., but th.o bank oOicials said McKay had no account. Witness saw accused on the fith and told him the cheque was. valueless. Accused asked to be given, till •"> o'clock in the afternoon, and he would either bring or send the money along. Witness had not seen accused since, till lie saw him in court. Keplving to Mr McKen/.ie. witness said lie had previously found Me.Kn.y to be honest. McKay was sober when he 'presented the cheque.

William Fly said lit' had known MeKav for about threi- years. On tin , morning c> 1' .liiiu , ->vi\ M.i'Kny called :111■ I asked I'm- a blank cheque. Witness uavc MVKav a blank cheque, which .MrKay lilli'il iij' in his oliiee for £5. Accused asked Fly to rash the cheque, hut h<> had no change. Accused (hen loft the ofliee.

To Afr MV'Kenzie: Witness had previously found McKay lo be honest, lie was quite sohi-r wln-n he called for the blank cheque.

11. Hammond, accountant at the Bank of New South Wales, .said J hat accused had never had an account at the bank.

Mr McKen/.ie said that accused would immediately make restitution to Mr Stains of the money he had. obtained from him. Accused pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court at Wellington for sentence.