POLICE COURT.—Wednesday.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 397, 19 April 1871, Page 2

POLICE COURT.—Wednesday.

[Before R. F. Porter and G-. P. Pierce, Esqs., Justices.]

DBTTNKENITEBS.—Five persons were punished in the usual manner for this offence, typA tvn forfeited bail. xsHpr.

LABCEsrsr.—W. Thompson "was c' ged with stealing an axe from Neil Campbell, value 3a. Pleaded guilty, and having be a previously convicted, was sentenced to six months' imprisonment. PBBJFHr. —William Perciral waa charged by T. M. Stewart, manager of the Bank of New Zealand, with having committed wilful and corrupt perjury in his testimony given in the Resident Magistrate's Court, in an action bro.ight by defendant against the bank for £10 10s, on which occasion as alleged it was stated bj defendant that he had never drawn a certain cheque for that amount in favor of James Russell. It was stated by the prosecution that said cheque had since been found.—Mr. Brookfield for the prosecution, Mr. Wynn for the defence. — Thomas Buddie, solicitor, deposed : I recollect an action brought in the Resident Magistrate's Court on the 17th March by defondant against the Bank of New Zealand, for a sum of ten guineas; was present in Court during the hearing of the case ; defondant was duly sworn as witness ; his evidence was the only evidence as to whether the cheque for £10 10s was drawn or not; he swore that ho was positive he did not draw the cheque; the four letters produced were shown to Mr. Percival, and lie admitted them to be in his handwriting. (The letters were read by Mr. Brookfield, and had been written to the manager of the Bank asking for the production of the cheque drawn by him in favour of Mr. Eussell.) The defendant had denied after seeing these letters that he had drawn the cheque; he said he ought to have said in the letters " supposed to have been drawn by me;" The defendant became bankrupt, so that the case, which was adjourned, -was not concluded.— W. F. Lodge, Clerk of the Resident Magi trate's Court, corroborated the previous evidence.—G-. S. Kissling, Accountant of the Bank of New Zealand, produced the defendant's pass-book, and showed that a cheque was charged to defendant as paid to James Russell. There was a dispute about the loss of the cheque. Had repeated interviews with defendant about eighteen months ago in reference to the cheque, but he never denied having drawn it. He told me that ho wanted to trace through whose hands the cheque had passed, as Mr. Russell had not given him credit for the amount. Since the action in the Resident Magistrate's Court, the cheque has been found inside the pass-book. (Cheque produced.) The cheque bears his signature as William Percival, Captain, Paymaster East Coast Militia, and is dated 25th June, 1867. It is made pajable to J. Russell, Esq.', or order. It was paid by cash across the counter. —Q-. F. Wbitaker deposed : I am, and was in July, 1867, ledger-keeper in the Bank of New Zealand. Corroborated the previous evidence. —Mr. Wynn reserved his defence, and the defendant was committed for trial at the Supreme Court. Bail allowed in his own bond for £300, and two sureties of £150 each.