SERIES OF FORGERIES

Hokitika Guardian, 23 July 1930, Page 3

SERIES OF FORGERIES

OPERATED BY YOUNG MAN

(By Telegraph—Press Assoeiat.cn)

CHRISTCHURCH, July 22

On twelve charges of forging and one of theft, Auguste John Barbarei, .in engineer, aged 25 years, was committed to tlie Supreme Court for sentence on forgery charges, sentence on a theft charge being deterred. B!arbarel had pleaded guilty. The facts were that Barbarell stole his father-in-law’s Post Office Saving Bank book, and forged signatures to twelve withdrawal slips over a period of four months, obtaining in all 6211. The father-in-law, W. J. Fort, being unable to find his bank book reported his loss to the Post Office. There lie learned that his account had been operated. A watch, was then set for the forger. The evidence was that on the last occasion, a brother of tlie accused Edgar Arthur Barbarei, a labourer aged 20 years,.presented a withdrawal slip for £lO. He was detained and questioned. Edgar Arthur Barbarei wa.s charged with attempting to utter a withdrawal receipt for £lO on the Post Office Savings Bank, knowing the receipt to be forged. He pleaded not guilty. He was committed to the Supreme Court ifor trial.

According to the statement of Aug ’ste Mm Barbarei, to the police, in had given the last withdrawal slip t< his brother to cash.