AN EXTRAORDINARY CASE.

Evening Star, Issue 4096, 12 April 1876, Page 3

AN EXTRAORDINARY CASE.

At the City Police Court this morning one Arthur Robert Moule, who came over here about a month ago along with the Opera Company, was charged on information with fraudulently obtaining the signature of one Edward Kellett to a deed with intent to defraud. No evidence was gone into, but the examination of witnesses to-morrow is likely to elicit the following circumstances :—ln April, 1858, one John Kellett, who was then residing in Victoria, purchased 175 acres of land at Woodstock, which is a small township about nineteen miles to the north-east of Melbourne. The Crown grants for the land were made out in the names of John, Thomas, Edward, and Catherine Kellett. The purchase money was L 175, and, to secure the repayment of Ll2O of it, which had been advanced to him by one Coker, John Kellett deposited the Crown Grants with the latter. In August, 1858, John Kel ett sold the land to one M ‘lntyre for L3OO, subject to Coker’s mortgage of Ll2O. MTntyre subsequently sold for what amount and when does not transpire—to Messrs Windsor (who is described as a “solicitor” in the deed and other instruments Moule brought over with him), Taylor '(described as of Melbourne, auctioneer), and Moule (described as of Moonee Ponds, gentleman). Evidently with a view to completing their title to the land, Windsor, Taylor, and Moule advertised recently in one of the Dunedin papers, making inquiries for a family of the name of Kellett, The consequence was that Mrs Catherine Kellett, a widow residing here, communicated with them, the result of which was Moule’s appearance here armed with a number of legal instruments. He called upon Mrs Kellett, and after a conversation with her, said he did not think that she was the person inquired for; but early yesterday morning he obtained the signature of her sons Thomas and Edward to a deed which purports to assign to himself, Windsor, and Taylor, the interest of the Kellett’s in the land at Woodstock. It should be remarked that wherever the consideration for the Kelletts’ assignment is mentioned in the deed there •is a blank. As we are informed, the circumstances were notified to a legal gentleman, and the result was the swearing by Mrs Kellett of an information which led to Moule’s arrest yesterday afternoon The theory of the prosecution is that the signatures of the boys were obtained for fraudulent purposes, inasmuch as they could not be interested in a deed executed years before their birth. On the case being called on in the Police Court this morning there was a discussion between Mr Pyke and Mr Inspector Mallard as to the position the boy Kellett should occupy in relation to the case, which was eventually adjourned till tomorrow, when in all probability Moule will be charged as a principal instead of as an accessory before the fact, as now. Meanwhile Moule remains in custody, bail having been refused. °