MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3171, 23 August 1917, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

INDICTABLE CASKS ALLEGED FORGERY OF CHEQUES . •Mr. L. G. Iteid, S.M., presided at I lie , Jißgißtnite's Court yesterday. . Robert Irwin Meaciem was charged with forging three separate cheques lor £'* £11, and £16 respectively, each purporting ( to bo signed by James,Oreightou, and uttering them \to Oscar Mcars, John Jicyworth, and Horace 11. Mutlkin. . Chief Detective . Bo.ddani prosecuted, and accused conducted his own defence. Oscar Mcars, shop assistant in the employ of Herb Price.- clothier, Willis Strcol. stated that on the evening of Juno 29 last accused came into the shop and purchaser a hard blaok felt hat, valued at 10s. 6rt., and tendered in payment a chequo lor £5 signed by James Oreightou, and received M 9s. 6d. in change. This cheque was a genuino one. On the, following uay accußOd again came into tho shop and purohascd a bag and various articles of clothing, of tho total value of £17,55. in payment for the goods ho tendered a chWue for £23 and received _£5 15s. in change. The cheque, which was endorsed by Die accused, "G. M'Lejin, - was purported to have been - Bigned by Jnmcs Croighton, described by tho accused as a builder, at Lval Bay. Tho oncotic was sent to the bank and returned marked "No account." John Heyworth, butcher, Kilbirme, stated in bis evidence that, on the evening of June, 30, accused camo into his shop and purchased a roast of beef valued at. ss.' 6d„ and tendered a -chequo for £11, drawn in favour of "L. Banks." and purporting to be signed by' James Croighton. Accused said that he had been working for Creightou and that, tho cheque represented a fortnight's wages. Thiß cheque was dishonoured by the batik. Horace Herbert Rudkin, butcher.. Lyall Bay, stated that accused came to his shop on tho evening of Juno 30 and bought a roast of beef for 4s. He tendered a cheque for £15, purporting to be signed by Jameß Orpighton. Accused said ho would guarantee tho chenue. and on tho strength of that tho ment was deliverod and accused was given £14 165.. in change. The checiun was sent to the bank and returned marked "No account." ■'-,-., Formal evidence was given by Ldward H. .Liddlc, accountant, at • tho Te- Aro branch of the Bank of New Zealand, who stated that on Saturday morning, June 30, a man- who gavo tho namo of Henry Lambert, opened; an account for £5, and was -provided-..with a chequo book, ("he cheques alleged - to,havo been forged were taken from this chequo book.) James Orcighton, builder, residing at 115. Queen's Drive, Lyall Bay, stated in cvidonco that on the night of Juno 29 the acoused and another . man camo to his placo in connection with a transaction in timbor. An appointment was mado.for • 3 p.ni. the following'day, and tho appointment was' kept. . They went to Apu Crescent and there witness inspected and purchased from .accused timber to tho .value of £19.'. Ho gave the accused two oheques,. ono for £14 and tho other for £5. Later, a further quantity of timber was purchased by witness for £5, and a cheque for this amount was handed to the accused, who also returned the cheque previously given him for £14 in a scorched and torn condition and received a new obeoue in exchange. Witness had no current account ' with the Bank of New Zealand. He -kept his. account with the •■ National Bank of New Zealand.-: •■' -.-.;- .■ ■ i •At this Btage accused- asked. witness-if ho would mind being questioned as to his memory. ■ '.'■ '■' ' ~ • ■:■-. "I don't mind in the least, replied wit- . hess. ' . • ■ , . . Accused: .Then can you tell ine the date, year, and circumstances of the sinking of ■ tho Titanic? . ' V . Witness, smiling, said be could not. • - Aooiised: Then can you tell rno the date . of King Edward's death? To this question also tho- witness could . givo no reply, 'and accused ,was proceeding to'further oross-oxamino witness on these lines when he was pulled up by the Magis- . trate. '':;-'■ , , Detective . Eado. of ■ Ohristchurch, gave ' ovldence as to the arrost of the. accused ;and another, on another, charge at Ohristohurohj This closed tho caso for. the prosecution. , .'•'•.■ - Accused pleaded not guilty and.was committed to tho Supremo Court for trial.

'/■'.. FALSE PEETENOES. Meaciem' was further charged that, on Juno 25, he did obtain from 0. and A. Odlin, Ltd., timber and materials to the valuo:of £35 14s. lid. by means of false pretencos, to wit, that he, had a contract with one G. Goldfinch for fencing-laud in' Apu Orescent, Lyall' Bay, and that the amount (£35 14s. lid.)-was due in connection with tho said contract. . Ernest Arnold''Horon, accountant to C. and A. Odlin, said that, accused' was brought to him by a. member of the firm, and accused gave'Mb : name as George Eoland M'Lean, son."of.lt. M'Lcan, contractor, of Auckland. He stated tha,t he was undertaking small., contract jobs, worth from ;E5 upwards,:, and made inquiries as to the. prices of timber and building materials, and staled that ho expected to secure a contract for fencing.. Ho returned'a day or".two', later and produced a contract note, purporting to havo been made with one G. Goldflnoh for. fencing land at Apu Crescent, the contract price being £60. Timber and other materials, of tho yaluo Btftted, .were.delivered at Apu Oresoont in compliance with, tho order signed by aooused. It lyas solely on tho representations mado by i acoused that ho had a contract with Goldflnoh and tho contract note ho produced that the goods wore delivered. Accused stated' that Goldfinch lived at 10 Broadway-Terrace. Wellington. Leslie Goldfinch, residing at Lyall Bay, said he bad known accused casually, for about threo months. There was Borne conversation between them about accused making somo paths-Work'of a trilling character. The work was not to begin until the building was completed, but accused' failed to turn up, and consequently ho did no work for:witness. There no contract of any kind. Witness had no property in Apu Crescent and had never resided at 10 Broadway' Terrace, James Orcighton gave evidence as to the purchase of timber as in the previous ° Accused pleaded guilty to this charge and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. . . ,

OTHER. CASES. ■ Convicted of being' a. vogue and bond, in that lie was found by night on Private property, Henry Stevens was sentonced to seven. days 'imprisonment. Henry Callahan,, convicted of being an idle and disorderly person, in that he was found begging alms in Kelburn. was sentenced to fourteen doss' imprisonment, i A fine of 405.. in default fourteen Jays ininrisonment, was imposed on Ernest W. Bllgs whwas convicted.of being drunk in Hunter Street, while in charge of a, motor-car. , ~._ , -n-, „:,-' Frederick Campbell Frascr and l"-': ,f Hodras charged with attempting to defraud Henry Martindale of -£975 'by, means of falso pretences, wcro further remanded. Prasw until Friday,'and Hodges till Wednreday Bail was allowed, as previously. Ctore ice Donald Sutherland; was ordeVod .S&ato^,M^a^| military authorities.