THE RENT CASE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 3992, 27 July 1915, Page 6

THE RENT CASE.

JUDGMENT FOB PLAINTIFF. POLICE TO MAKE FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS. Mu*. W A. Barton, S.AI., delivered (judgment at the Mag-istnato’s- Court yesterday morning in-tho case of G ilbert Honey wood Norris, rent collector Mr. Blair) v. Robert Smith, barman (Mr. Finn). Tho judgment was as follows: “Tho plaintiff claims to recover from the’defendant the sum of £5 12s (for rent alleged to be due in respect of a cottage situated in Cobdeii Street, Gisborne, from the Btli March' to tlio 25th April, 1915. From the evidence, it appears that at tho commencement of the tenancy, which is admitted, the defendant was given a rent-book, in whidh entries were made by plaintiff and! initialled by him for all payments of rent. It is admitted that rent- was payable up to the date to which it is claimed'. Entries appear in the rentbook purporting to be receipts for rent in full. Plaintiff says most positively,that he did not receives the last seven items of 16s each, which make up the amount of the present claim, and that the initials appearing opposite those amounts arc not his, and that they are forgeries. “Mr. Carmine, a teller in the Bank of New Zealand, whose calling gives him experience- in signatures, says that ho knows plaintiff, who has been doing business at his bank for a- considerable time, that he is well acquainted with bis signature, and that after’comparison bo is perfectly satisfied. that the initials ‘G.H.N.’ apnearing opposite the last seven items in tho rent-book are not those of the plaintiff. “I have carefully compared the genuine initials of the plaintiff with those appearing opposite the last seven items in the rent-book, and I entirely agree with Mr. Carmine, and have no hesitation in saying that the characters of the letters are quite different, that the initials are forgeries, that defendant’s 'wife knows all about them, and that they were placed there with, tine object of defrauding the plaintiff of the rent justly due to him. I have, not the least doubt that defendant's wife has given false evidence in’this case. Judgment will be entered for the plaintiff for the- amount claimed, with costs of Court 10s, solicitor’s fee £1 65.” “1 shall retain this rent-book,” said his Worship, “and hand it over to the police. I think investigation ought to be- made.” The Magistrate then handed the rent-book over to Detective McLeod.