THE STORY OF A CHEQUE

Hokitika Guardian, 19 August 1926, Page 2

THE STORY OF A CHEQUE

UNUSUAL cmCUAISTANCES. . [BY TELEGRAPH —PEW TRESS ASSOCIATION. YVELLINGTON, August 19. The story of a mucli-abused cheque for £oS6 drawn on the Commercial Bank of Australia was told in tlio Alagistrate’s Court during the hearing of a case in which Robert .Campbell, labourer, aged 29, was diiarged with i forging and uttering the cheque mentioned. The accused who pleaded not guilty, was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. It is alleged.that accused placed £3 in the bank and obtained and a chequdjj book the day before the offence is said to have taken place. He then, it was further alleged, withdrew £2 and noticing the code marked by the clerk, decided to try and draw a big sum out by forging tiie initials and using the cypher. The evidence given went to show the Campbell had used a certain code . used by the bank s on the back of his cheque for the pur- ; pose of having it cashed. Although the code was a correct one lor small transactions, it was very different to the ones used for big amounts. When the cheque was presented the teller passed it- on to the ledger-keeper for reference. Noticing this, the accused called the ledger-keeper and when the latter bent over towards him, Campbell snatched the cheque and walked to the other end of the bank. He took all the document excepting a small piece left in tlio ledger-keeper’s hands. The cheque was eventually snatched hack by a clerk. Detective Hodges, wlio arrested accused, stated at tlie Police Station, another attempt was made to destroy tliie cheque. He told me lie wished to make a statement, said witness, and 1 took him into the office to sign it. Here lie asked to seo the cheque and when the request" was granted, he snatched it away, placing n in bis mouth and began to chew it up. Y\ ritness overpowered lliim, and ail emetic was administered. This course proved unnecessary, for the document which was produced and put in evidence in ;» very mutilated form, was later found in the shirt front of the accused.