VALUELESS CHEQUES.

Waikato Times, Volume 105, Issue 17712, 16 May 1929, Page 11

VALUELESS CHEQUES.

A SYSTEMATIC SCHEME. [Yi/INY FIRMS VICTIMISED. CLEANING UP NORTH ISLAND. (By Telegraph—Press Association,} NEW PLYMOUTH, Wednesday. The story of a systematic scheme for defrauding tradespeople by passing valueless cheques by three men, who set out from Christchurch to do the North Island, was unfolded at the Police. Court this morning, when Leslie Charles Bourk, one of the trio whose operations ''were cut short last week, appeared on remand before Mr Tate, S.M., on four charges of securing goods and money by this means. He went to a jeweller's shop, where he purchased a fountain pen for £2 2s 6d, tendering a cheque for £lO, and receiving the balance in cash. Goods were also purchased at a drapery establishment for £1 14s, where another £lO cheque was cashed. , Next attention was given to a hairdresser, where he made a purchase of goods to the value of 15s, tendering a cheque for £5. A man who was in the shop at the time remembered seeing another man cashing a cheque at another shop in the opposite side of the street earlier. Bourk was followed, and was found in a well-known clothing establishment fitting hi/nself out with a Cardigan pullover at a cost of 19s Gd and receiving change for a cheque for £5. Bourk was quite frank and gave the police the whole story of the scheme since lie came into it. The amount involved in the New Plymouth transactions was £3O, goods of a total value of £5 Us being purchased and cash received amounting to £24 9s. The cheques were all drawn on the Bank of Australasia at Christchurch by one, Aubrey, and made payable to “ Mr T. A. Russell," and accused carried a letter setting out that the cheque had been paid to him on account of wages. The Senior Sergeant said defandant was in Christchurch on May 1, when he met two men named Hill and Shaw, who both had previous convictions. Hill’s real name was Thomas. They told him that they hud been passing valueless cheques at Christchurch and were going to "clean up the North Island,” and he agreed to join them. They did “ some business ” at Wellington and Wanganui, and reached New Plymouth on May 5. Next day Thomas gave Shaw and Bourk six cheques, and sent them off one down each side of the main street. Twelve cheques had been drawn, eight for £lO each and the others for £5 each. When- arrested Bourk had £l7 on him. So far as has been ascertained three cheques were passed by the man on the opposite side of the street. Bourk’s arrest caused the other two men to make a clean break-awav. Bourk had nothing to do with the operations in Christchurch, where it is understood a cheque book was taken from a house which was broken into by one of the others. There were some previous convictions against Bourk, but not of this kind. Accused pleaded guilty. Bourk was sentenced to six months’ hard labour.