Post by NZBC on May 15, 2011 22:30:26 GMT 12
FALSE PRETENCES,
A charge of obtaining £2 10s m money from Louis Lee, a Chinese market gardener at Patea, by issuing a valueless cheque in October last, was preferred • against Thomas Knutsen. Mr C. H. Weston (Crown Prosecutor) conducted proceedings for the prosecution. Knutsen, who was not represented by counsel, pleaded not guilty. He conducted his own defence.
Mr Weston said that some four or five days before the alleged offence was perpetrated the accused called on Mr Stevenson, manager of the Bank of New Zealand at Patea, and had an interview with.him. At that, time Knutsen seemed to be either intoxicated or not quite in' his right mind, and altogether the manager said he could not make much out of the interview. Accused apparently wanted the manager to recognise his signature. A few days after ivnutsen called at the bank and. obtained a blank cheque from the lady clerk, telling her he was transferring his account to-the Patea branch. Nexl clay Knutsen called on Louis (Lee, from whom he had already bought vegetables on credit, and purchased some more vegetables, tendering a, cheque for £5 as payment, and the Chinaman squared the account and gave £2 10s change. Lee himself did not cash the cheque, but gave ft to another Chinaman named. Wong, who took it to the bank and discovered it was valueless.
6. H. Stevenson, bank manager, Patea, said that when Knutsen first came to see him his remarks were a general; mix-up, as he talked about buying motor launches and farms, and also said something about the war. He gave a Specimen signature, which witness later threw in the waste paper basket. Later a cheque - signed by Knutsen came before him through. Adams ana vSons, with an equiry if it was all right^ and he returned it* stating there was no account. The cheque was after- I wards presented by a Cninaman named ! Wong.
Evidence regarding the cheque was aißo given by Margaret A. Homer, telfer at the bank at Patea.
Louis Lee, market gardener, recounted various dealings with, the accused, and was subjected to lengthy crossexamination by Knutsen, who affirmed that Lee was not telling the truth. His contention appeared to be that Lee was to get 10s for holding-the cheque and presenting it the following Saturday. After the evidence for the prosecution concluded, Knutsen was asked *i he desired to give evidence. He then briefly addressed the jury,' stating that ho had always told the truth m the matter. If Lee had kept the cheque, he said, there would have been no trouble. He had over £22 in wages , due to him at the time, which he could hnve got by going six miles, and als* had a private, income of £1 per. week.
Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, 9 February 1921, Page 5
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=HNS19210209.2.42.3&cl=search&srpos=210&e=-------100-HNS-201----0wong--&st=1
A charge of obtaining £2 10s m money from Louis Lee, a Chinese market gardener at Patea, by issuing a valueless cheque in October last, was preferred • against Thomas Knutsen. Mr C. H. Weston (Crown Prosecutor) conducted proceedings for the prosecution. Knutsen, who was not represented by counsel, pleaded not guilty. He conducted his own defence.
Mr Weston said that some four or five days before the alleged offence was perpetrated the accused called on Mr Stevenson, manager of the Bank of New Zealand at Patea, and had an interview with.him. At that, time Knutsen seemed to be either intoxicated or not quite in' his right mind, and altogether the manager said he could not make much out of the interview. Accused apparently wanted the manager to recognise his signature. A few days after ivnutsen called at the bank and. obtained a blank cheque from the lady clerk, telling her he was transferring his account to-the Patea branch. Nexl clay Knutsen called on Louis (Lee, from whom he had already bought vegetables on credit, and purchased some more vegetables, tendering a, cheque for £5 as payment, and the Chinaman squared the account and gave £2 10s change. Lee himself did not cash the cheque, but gave ft to another Chinaman named. Wong, who took it to the bank and discovered it was valueless.
6. H. Stevenson, bank manager, Patea, said that when Knutsen first came to see him his remarks were a general; mix-up, as he talked about buying motor launches and farms, and also said something about the war. He gave a Specimen signature, which witness later threw in the waste paper basket. Later a cheque - signed by Knutsen came before him through. Adams ana vSons, with an equiry if it was all right^ and he returned it* stating there was no account. The cheque was after- I wards presented by a Cninaman named ! Wong.
Evidence regarding the cheque was aißo given by Margaret A. Homer, telfer at the bank at Patea.
Louis Lee, market gardener, recounted various dealings with, the accused, and was subjected to lengthy crossexamination by Knutsen, who affirmed that Lee was not telling the truth. His contention appeared to be that Lee was to get 10s for holding-the cheque and presenting it the following Saturday. After the evidence for the prosecution concluded, Knutsen was asked *i he desired to give evidence. He then briefly addressed the jury,' stating that ho had always told the truth m the matter. If Lee had kept the cheque, he said, there would have been no trouble. He had over £22 in wages , due to him at the time, which he could hnve got by going six miles, and als* had a private, income of £1 per. week.
Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, 9 February 1921, Page 5
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=HNS19210209.2.42.3&cl=search&srpos=210&e=-------100-HNS-201----0wong--&st=1