LETTER TO THE PRESS

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 131, 29 November 1929, Page 16

LETTER TO THE PRESS

ALLEGATION OF FORGERY

PLEA .OF NOT GUILTY

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) : . r 27th November. , ■A case of special interest to newspapers, was heard yesterday in the Magistrate's Court, before Mr. Pater so%'.'S.M. ,- '..'.. ' , . i Charles Henry Campbell Worthingtonj editor of the Eotorua "Chronicle, " ■;'prqe'ee(led against James Alexander Kitchie^. described as a labourer, on three counts of forgery': (1) By. uiahing a false document, a letter ad-t dressed to the editor of thfi " Chronicle, '.'Eotorua, purporting to be signed and made in.whole by one Kobert Yule, of '■ Eainbow Mountain, Eotorua, who did-not'authorise the making of such letter; (2) by making a false document, a letter addressed to the editor of the "'Chronicle," Eotorua, in the name of one- Eobert Yule, of Eainbow Mountain/ Eotprua, with the fraudulent intention that-such letter should pass as being made by the said Robert Yule; (3) by making a false document, a letiei addressed to the editor of the '" Chronicle," Eotorua, purporting to Tae signed, and made in whole by one Eobert Yule, of Eainbow Mountain, Eotorua, a person who-did not, in'fact, exist. ; , '.'.■'•' The: informant gave evidence qf the receipt-of. a-letter which made certain reflections on State forest management and afforestation companies. The writing'"was well known to him as that of Eitchie. -y -Inquiries at- the State forest and- 'of the afforestation companies failed ;to:'find Yule. A further letter for publication received • from A. Cook couched in similar terms, decided the editor to take action. The "Chronicle" had;preyiously suffered heavy damage through false signatures attached to correspondence. Evidence was given by William T. Morrison ■ (Conservator of Forests), V. T. Fail (manager of Afforestation Proprietary), H. Johnson (manager. Per-petual-Forests), T. G. Quilter (forest guard). AH ' denied knowledge of Eobert; Yule. "The "defence admitted -writing the letter,: stating it was copied for Eobert. Yule, whom they would -produce when found. ~ The defendant pleaded not guilty, reserveds'his defence, and was committed for trial.at the Supreme Court at Hamilton on." : 24th February. Bail was granted. .