Resident Magistrate’s Court – Obtaining goods by false pretences
Owen Cameron was charged on remand with obtaining goods and money of the value of £10 from Messrs Wilson and Richardson, drapers, of Lambton Quay, by means of a valueless cheque. Henry Frederick Davis, assistant to Messrs Wilson and Richardson, stated that on a recent date the prisoner purchased at their shop a suit of clothes and other goods of the value of £3 19s, and tendered in payment a cheque on the Bank of New Zealand for £10, signed “J. and D. Sinclair.” He represented that he had been working for Messrs Sinclair, of the Wainuiomata saw-mills, and that the cheque was given to him in payment of his wages. On the faith of these representations the cheque was accepted, and the change handed to the prisoner. Mr Richardson, one of the principals of the firm said he paid the cheque into their account at the National Bank, when it was returned, with an intimation that the Colonial Bank might be tried. Mr Duncan Sinclair, of the firm of J. & D. Sinclair, of Wainuiomata, stated that the cheque produced was not signed by either himself or his brother. The prisoner had been working for them, but left about three weeks ago. His wages were generally paid by cheques. Witness’s firm had no account at the Bank of New Zealand. Mr Richardson, re-called, stated that he presented the cheque at the Colonial Bank, and was informed that it was a forgery. The prisoner was then charged with obtaining goods and money from Mr George Pirie, of Tory Street, by similar false representations. The evidence was of the same nature as that in the last case, excepting that the cheque was on the Bank of Australasia. The prisoner obtained goods of the value of £4 13s 6d, receiving the balance (£5 6s 6d) in money. When paid into the bank the cheque was returned “no account.” Mr Sinclair stated that the firm had no account at the Bank of Australasia, and that the signature was a forgery. George Harold Norman, teller at the Bank of Australasia, said that when the cheque was presented for payment it was returned, as Messrs Sinclair had no account at the bank. The prisoner said he had been drinking heavily for three weeks, and he did not recollect anything about the cheques. Prisoner was then fully committed for trial on both charges.
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