MAGISTRATES’ COURTS

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1634, 16 May 1879, Page 3

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS

CHRISTCHURCH. Fbiday, May 16. (Before T. M. Hassal, Esq, J.P., and His Worship the Mayor.) Dbttnkand Disobderly.—A first offender was fined ss. Fobgeby and Uttering.— Jacob Vagt was charged with forging and uttering a promissory note for £22 10s, with intent to defraud. Michael Murphy deposed that ho Wi*s a broker residing in Barbado 's street north, on the morning of the Bth instant tho prisoner called on him and asked to have a bill discounted. He said he lived in Bingsland, and would get it endorsed by a farmer, whose name he (witness) could not remember. Witness declined to discount the bill unless he knew the endorser. They walked down to town together, and prisoner asked witness if he would take tho name of George Troleaven, corn dealer, or Mrs Fuchs. Witness said yes, either would do, and the prisoner said he would meet him that day at noon, at tho Bank of New Zealand corner. Prisoner did not keep tho appointment, and on the Friday prisoner brought him a blank promissory note for £2O, and tho interest in all, £22 10i, for him (witness) to fill up Witness filled it up, and le f t a blank for the names. Prisoner signed his name in the presence of witness, and then took the form away. On Saturday morning p isoner sent the bill in to him, and told him that tho signature was that of Mrs Fuchs of tho Wellington Hotel, and that she signed it at

twelve o’clock on Friday, Witness said that was wrong, as he had seen Mrs Fuchs at three o’clock and she said she would not sign the bill, and ho believed it to be a forgery. Prisoner said it was; but if he (witness) would keep it, and Mrs Fuchs did not take it up, ho would sell his furniture to meet it when it became due. Prisoner asked to have the bill back, but witness refused to give it up. Prisoner asked would it bo all right if Mrs Fuchs signed it. Ho went away and came back in about twenty minutes and said Mrs Fuchs was dressing, and would bo up in about an hour. He then went away and witness gave information to the police. Elizabeth Fuchs, licensee of the Wellington Hotel, deposed that the prisoner called on her last Saturday morning, and asked her to lend him some money on mortgage. She told him she could not. He asked her not to go against him in the matter of a bill. She said she had nothing to do with him or the bill. He said no more, but went away. The signatures on the bill produced were not her’s. There was no other person in the district of the same name as her’s. Detective Walker deposed that ho arrested the prisoner on the night of the 14th instant at his house in Merivale lane. He told him the charge, and the prisoner said he expected it. This was the case for the prosecution, and the prisoner, having been cautioned, was committed to take his trial at the next session of the Supreme Court.