FORGERY AND UTTERING

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14600, 25 February 1921, Page 7

FORGERY AND UTTERING

OLD MAN BEFORE OOURT.

COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE

John Rensky, an elderly man \vil.li various aliases, appeared at the Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr It. !■'. Haycock and Mr .1. W. Walsh. J's.P., on four informations charging him with obtaining money and goods by false pretences.

Accused whs nol represented by ccunsel. Detective Sweeney prosecuted. Edwin Hold, watchmaker, Hamilton, slated that on February 5, 1921, the accused came into his shop and made several purchases of jewellery, a silver watch and chain, a sold ring, an alarm clock, and a gold brooch (the articles produced). They were valued at £lO Is Gd. Accused asked whether witness would take a cheque lor the goods purchased, and witness replied in the affirmative. Accused presented the cheque (produced), purporting to he diawn by John Bennett on the National Bank of New Zealand at Ktirow for £I r >. Witness gave accused change to the amounl of i'-i l«s 6d in cash. Two clays later accused returned lo the shop, f.nd made a further purchase of a lady's silver watch, a gold guard and a cigarette-holder, of the value of £6 ss. Accused requested witness to (111 in the body of the cheque for £8 ss, which witness did. and accused signed it ".lohn Bennett,." This cheque was drawn on the same bank as previously. Witness gave accused £2 in cash change. Accused told witness that he was a farmer at Kurovv, near Auckland. Witness believed both die.pies I" be genuine, especially when accused came in the second lime. Witness paid both cheques into the Bank or New Zealand fir collection at the National Bank of New Zealand at Kurow. They were retimed marked "No account." To Mr Haycock: Accused had no cheque-book, the cheques being loosones.

Mr Haycock: You'want to he careful in future.

Witness: I will, Your Worship. Kenneth William JoTinstone, taxidriver, residing at Morrinsvillc, state.l that on February 8 th-3 accused engaged him to drive him to Tc Aroha. Befere leaving accused wanted to'pay the fare out of a cheque for £ir>, which witness declined to accept. Accused t; en said that lie would write a fresh cheque out for the exact amount when they arrived at Te Aroha, and to this witness agreed. On arrival at Te Aroha accused said ttiat he had no blank cheques, and as he had no cash witress had no alternative hut to accept il.e cheque. Witness arranged with the accused to post the balance of the cheque after deducting £2 for taxi hire. Witness desired to si e if th" cheque va s any pond, and lie adopted this ceurse instead of cashing it immediately. 'Jhe cheque was the cue produced. The C.iequc purported to he a cheque on tie.' National Hank of New Zealand, Auckland, drawn by John Bennett for £ls. Witness paid the cheque into the Bank of New Zealand at Morrinsville for collection at tiie National Bank at Auckland. It was returned marked "No account."

Joseph Meltzer, manager of the Waikato Loan Company, Hamilton, state 1 that on February 7 accused sold him a clock, brooch and ring (produced) for £j, giving the name of John Robinson, carter, of Hamilton. On the same day ho pawned the watch and chain (produced) for £2. Witness gave the accuse,] the pawn-tick-jt produced.

John Henry Sweeney, detective, staI'oned at Hamilton, s-aid thai on Keli-

r iary •>'■'<, 1021, lie interviewed the accused in respect of the charges pre- |. rred against him. Accused said. "I wish to plead guillv to all the offences and save all the expense 1 can." Accused then made a statement, which he signed, admitting his guilt. He slate 1 l.e was over 70 years Of age and a widower, and was known under various names. His father was a Russian and Lis mother an Austrian. He was born in' St. Petersburg, Russia. The cheques were obtained from waste-paper sent to the Prison Gale Home by various business firms, where it was sorted prior to being sent to (he paper mills. He had been released from the -Ml. Eden Gaol in December last, after having served a term of three years' imprisonment for false pretences. The live cheque forms produced were found in the possession of the accused when arrested. Two were filled in for £ls and one for £8 12s, the other two being blank cheques.

Joseph Tunnel, motor driver, stated tl'.nt on February 3 accused joined witness' ear at the Raglan post-offlcc to come to Hamilton. Accused handed witness the cheque produced to pay the 17s Gd ear fare from Raglan. The cheque purported to be on the National Bank of Mew Zealand, New Plymouth, drawn by John Robinson for £ls. When accused presented the cheque witness had no money to meet it. Witness arranged with Mr Frank Fowlde, Of Hamilton, to have it cashed. Witness endorsed the cheque, receiving tlu e 1 r> from Mr Fowlde. Accused was waiting close by and witness gave hi u iJ j i 2s in cash. The cheque was returned from New Plymouth marked "no account." Accused intimated that he had nothing to say, and pleaded guilty to all the charges.

Detective Sweeney: May I suggest that h c be committed to the Auckland Supreme Court for sentence, sir, as there will be oilier charges preferred against him there. The Bench adopted the suggestion.