"THE LAST EXTREME."

Waikato Times, Volume 98, Issue 15312, 13 August 1923, Page 6

"THE LAST EXTREME."

A LOST CHEQUE-BOOK.

EX-ACCOUNTANT'S WEAKNESS.

A find is sometimes a greater than a blessing. It was so in the casi * of Montague Henry. Pennycuick, whose experiences with a cheque-book which he picked up in the writing room of the post office in May last culminated in his appearance before Mr E. Page, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court, Wellington, to answer three charges of forgery involving a sum of £ll 19s 6d, and nine charges concerning the issue of valueless cheques to the extent of £35 12s 6d. Chief-Detective Kemp said that the accused had made use of the cheque forms contained in the book for various amounts, ranging from £1 Is 6d to £6 18s 6d. His operations were confined to Wellington, Petone and Palmerston, and tradesmen and proprietors of hotels were the viotims. Issuing valueless cheques was Pennycuick's weakness. He had been an accountant by profession, bat had lost his situation through misfortune. He had not long been released from.prison at the completion of a sentence for an offence somewhat similar to those with which he stood charged. Pennycuick pleaded guilty to all counts, and on those relating to forgery he was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. "I propose to deal with you on the nine summary' charges now," said His Worship. "Have you anything to say?" Accused replied that he understood when he pleaded guilty to the charges> that he would be sent on to the Supreme Court for sentence. "I have not made up my mind what to say, yet," he added. His Worship: You have the option to be .tried there on any amounts exceeding £2. Accused: "I do not want to be tried there." To obviate the necessity of taking depositions, he finally agreed to accept summary jurisdiction. The story the accused told was one of astruggle with adversity. "I would just like to say," he commenced, "that I have tried very hard to get work. I did not want to continue on the lines I had done previously, but I was unable to get employment as I could not produce references. After six weeks I came to the end of my resources. I had no home to go to, and I had to spend a few nights out in the open. As a last resource, I fell .to tempta- ■ tion. If I had work to go to I would not do anything of that description. It was done absolutely as the last extreme." The Magistrate Imposed a term of 18 months' imprisonment with hard labour.