MAGISTRATES COURTS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1822, 23 December 1879, Page 2

MAGISTRATES COURTS.

CHRIS lOHURCH. Tuesday, Decembbe 23. [[Before G. L. Mollish, Esq., E.M."I Dkitnk and Disoudeely.—One drunkard was fined ss. Fosobby.—Roderick McLennan, on remand from Napier, was charged with forging and uttering a cheque for £25 on the Bank of New Zealand, Geraldine. Mr Inspector Hickson stated that the prisoner had only arrived that morning from Napier, and he would ask for a remand for twenty-four hours, as by that time ho hoped to have the witnesses ready. Remanded until the 24th. Foegeey and Uttbbiho.—Daniel O’Brien alias John Foley, remanded from the 19th inst., was charged with forging and uttering a cheque for £lO on the Union Bank of Australasia at Tetnuka. William Henry Ran, a clerk in thj Bank of New Zealand, Christchurch, slated that the cheque-book from which the cheque produced had been taken was issued to J. O. Sheppard on the 10th December last. John Fitzgerald, barman at the Borough Hotel, stated that the prisoner cumo to the hotel on Thursday, the 27th November, and stayed until December 3rd. On the 29th November witness asked the accused for some money, as he was a stranger. Prisoner said “ I have a cheque here.” He took out tho cheque produced. He said that O'Brien, whose signature was written on the cheque, was a contractor at the Waihi Bush, and he hud just given him the cheque. Mr Barrett then came in and accused made tho same statement to him. At Mr Barrett's request the prisoner endorsed the cheque with the name of John Foley. Witness, instructed by Mr Barrett, advanced accused three sums, of 15s, 7s, and 10s, respectively, on different days. John Barrett, licensee of tho Borough Hold, Christchurch, said that the prisoner had stayed at hia hotel for a few days. On the 29:h of November last witness advat.c.-d a few shillings to the prisoner on a cheque bearing the signature of j. O’Brien, a contractor, prisoner endorsing the cheque with the name of John Foley. On the following day witness paid the cheque into the bank, at,d it was returned to him, as there was no branch of the Union Bank of Australasia at Ternuka. J. Oram Sheppard' licensee of the White Hart Hotel, Christchurch, stated that ho frequently gave blank cheques away, but did not remember giving one to the prisoner. John Foley, a laborer, living near Timaru, stated that he had known the prisoner for the last two years in New Zealand. His name was Daniel O'Brien, Had never been a mate of the prisonor’e, nor worked with him. Had not seen him for th last four or five months The prisoner wm

laborer. Had never authorised the prisoner to make use of hie name to endorse a cheque, and had no banking account. This was the case for the prosecution, and the prisoner was committed for trial at the next sessions o the Supreme Court.