MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 10, 7 October 1920, Page 8

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

♦ • FORGERY OF MUFTI WARRANTS, Mr. J. 8. Evans, S.M., presided at the Magistrate's Court yesterday and dealt witn the police caßcs. For committing a grossly indecent act in Kunter Street on Tuesday ovening, James Kelly, a fireman, -was lined 40s. Josoph A. Murphy was oharged with' committing an indecent act with intent to insult a young woman. Chief-Detec-tive Ward alleged that accused exposed himself to the woman, who was -working in a factory opposite to where Murphy was seen.. Ho asked for a roninnd for a week, Mr. H. F, O'Leary appeared tor accused, and said that he was a marriod man and a' trainee in the Bacteriological Branch of the Agricultural Department. Counsel raised no objection to the remand, and asked for bail, which was granted in £50 and one surety of £60, or two of £25 each. William E. .Norman waß charged that on August il ho forged the name of Arthur Collins to an application for a license to drive a motor-car, and caUßed M. T, Fuller to act upon the same as If it wero genuine. Mr. A. B. Sievwright appeared for the accmod, who, wh>n asked to plead, admitted that ho signed the name of Collins, but said that he had tho man's consent. Tho Magistrate declined to accept this ploa; tho accused therefore pleaded not guilty, and -was committed to tho Supremo Court for trial. Bail waa allowed in ono surety of £50. Frank E. Oakes (for whom Mr. O. B. O'Donnell appeared) was charged that on July 11 ho mado a false, document by signing the name of F. Baker to an order to Bupply civilian clothing to a boldier on discharge, and caused Ernest Batchelor, accountant to Messrs. Charles Hill and Sons, outfitters, to act upon same aj if it wero genuine. There wero four other similar charges, the names of different soldiers being used on the warrants, and the orders being presented to different firms. It was stated that tho accused was employed as a olerk in tho Defence Office, and it was his duty to make out clothing orders and havo them oounter-signcd by a superior officer. The, accused made out tho orders 3n question, and got them countersigned in tho üßual way, but Instead of Bending tho orders to tho soldterß named, ho qigned their names and retained the orders for his own purposes. When accused of the forgories, he admitted his guilt frankly, and disclosed tho forgery of one of tho documents, which might \ otherwise not have been, discovered. Oakes was a Main Body soldier, and had | four years' service. Detective Torrance •aid that he gave the police a great . deal of assistance in clearing up. the mat- | ter The' 'accused pleaded guilty, f.nd xm committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Bail was. allowed in £50, and ■me surety of £50.