FORGERY BY A SEA COOK

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 288, 31 August 1921, Page 9

FORGERY BY A SEA COOK

ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR , SENTENCE. Alfred Ellis, a cook, appeared before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday afternoon, charged-- with forging file name of J. Jarvis to a New Zealand inland money order telegram for JlB 13s. 6d. John Jarvis, chief steward' of the s.s. Kowhaif said that the accused was the cook on the vessel. In July last the Kowhai was on the slip; and one day witness desired to send a telegram to a man named Higgins in Greymouth, asking him to remit some money owing to witness. Tho draft of the message was written out and given to the accused to send, and he yas told to sign ttys name of witness to' the telegram. About a fortnight later witness saw tho accused, who stated that he had sent the telegram as directed. 1 There was no reply to the telegram from Higgins. On August 7 witness.was in Greymouth, and there saw Higgins, who said that ho had received the message, and had in reply sent a money-order telegram. Witness went to tjie post office, and was shown two documenta bearing his name, and purporting to have been signed by him. He had not signed them. , Witness subsequently saw tho_ accused, who denied having forged witness’s namiej to the money-order telegram. Daniel M'Grath, clerk in the Courtenay Place Post Office, -gave formal evidence aa to the cashing of the moneyorder telegram. Detective-Sergeant Andrews said that he interviewed the accused on the steamer Kowhai. He admitted that he was responsible' for the money, and said he would refund it. He also admitted signing tho name of Jarvis to the document at the post office when ho received the money. The accused had refunded the amount since his arrest. The accused pleaded guilty, and’ was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. ’ K