The hearing was concluded before Mr. G. W. King ai Police Cowt Jast Fr series of charges against H. G. C. L. Roberts, a young man forme! in the Customs service, of obtaining goods and money by means of; of worthless cheques. i Mr. R. C. Faithfull (prosecuting) having withdrawn one of the charges owing to the non-appearance of the complainant, the Magistrate said he wished to impress upon the defendant whut kind of predicament he was now, in. There were charges against' him of having obtained goods to the value of $142.90 from Laou Kai Took & Ca., of $26 from John Sing Ca., of $36.93 from Ah Ting, of! $30 from Saey Tai, by presenting worthless cheques, and also of obtaining $30 from the Savoy; Hotel and $18.40 from Mr. G.; Robinson, of 33D Yangtszepoo Road, by means of false pretences All these had been proved by the police.
"How are you going to meet them?" said his Worship.
After a silence of some minutes the defendant replied in a scarce-! ly audible voice that he had nothing to say and would not go into the box.
The Magistrate—Let me tell yon that if you do not defend yourself I must enter a conviction for these charges.
After his Worship had indicated defence which might be taken up defendant persisted that he did not want to say anything.
The Magistrate—Do you plead' guilty, then? (Defendant gave no reply). Do you want me therefore to enter a conviction?
Defendant (wearily)—I don't. care.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.