THE CONVEYANCE FORGERY CASE.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1814, 13 December 1879, Page 3

THE CONVEYANCE FORGERY CASE.

fßr Telboeaph.] TIMARU, December 12. The cases against Manning and Saunders occupied the Supreme Court all day, and were only concluded about 6.30 p.m, Mr White, Crown prosecutor, appeared to prosecute, and Mr Robert Stout and Mr Reid for the defence. The evidence was almost the same as in the Resident Magistrate’s Court. Mr Toss will, solicitor, proved having prepared an agreement, dated July Ist, in which Manning and Saunders undertook to indemnify Rogers against all proceedings for the recovery of the land, and to pay him £IOOO for giving up peaceable possession. The case created the greatest excitement, and the Court was crowded all day. After all the evidence was concluded, Mr Stout, for the defence, raised several points of law. The main one, and that on wbioh the prisoners •were discharged, was founded on a statute of Henry Till, which has been upheld by the Appeal Court of New Zealand. This was to the effect that the deed was void even if signed by the true •Edward James, because he had not been in possession within a year. As such a document, if prepared by the true Edward James, would be valueless, no forgery could be committed on it. Judge Johnston directed the jury to return a verdict of acquittal, saying ~that though public justice might suffer in this instance, the law as it stood must be upheld. Saunders was then indicted, and the jury directed to return a similar verdict. James, who yesterday pleaded guilty, and received two years, was then brought in and his sen•.tence arrested, the Judge promising to recommend the Governor to grant him a free par- . d, o n. This concluded the sittings.;