NINETEEN CHARGES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 214, 10 August 1937, Page 9

NINETEEN CHARGES

IN MAGISTRATE’S COURT. BANK NOTES, CASE. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Aug. 9. Forgery, uttering and attempted uttering of false £5 notes of the Reserve Bank of Now Zealand AA'erc alleged in 19 charges preferred against Charles Alfred Remmers, a labourer, aged 49, when he appeared before Mr Wyvern Wilson, S.M., in the Police Court. The case Avas a sequel to the circulation of forged bank notes among Auckland business people last Christmas. Detective-Sergeant Walsh conducted the prosecution, calling 12 AVitnesses. The evidence of one Avas expunged. Accused AV'ns not represented by counsel, but acted in his oaa’u defence, questioning Avitnesses and taking his oAvn notes on tlioir depositions. He asked for and received a light piece of Avood on which to rest his paper while AVriting in the dock. Muriel McMillan, a salesAvoman, said accused called at a jeweller’s shop in Avhich she Avas employed on Christmas Ea'6 last. At about 5.20 p.m. he bought a set of chessmen for £3 and paid for it Avith a £5 note, the only one received that dny. Witness identified the note produced as being the one she and her employer, John Murrell, AA’ho gave corroborative evidence, had signed in the presence of a detective after the holidays. “Realising the seriousness of the charges against me and knowing you are on oath, do you positively SAvear I am .the man avlio tendered you that note?” accused asked Avitness, who gaA r e an affirmative reply. A ladies’ outfitter, Betty Stevens, said accused bought a hat for his daughter from her on December 24. It cost 9s lid, and he paid for it with a £5 note, which she later took through to her dressmaker, remarking that it Avas false- “I can identify the note because it is smeary,” Avitness added, when shoAVn the note.

The manageress and a shop assistant of Cathay House, Nina Clayton, and Frances Joan Ramsay, said accused entered the shop on December 24, buying a model of Buddha costing 17s 6d for his AA-ife. The £5 note he tendered for payment was split at one corner, and the number ended in “123.”

Robert Dunbar Atchison and Gilbert Harold Treneary, storemen employed by E. W. Pidgeon and Co., Ltd., gave evidence of a transaction by accused on December 24, Avhen he left a tyre off an old model truck to he repaired. Atchison said he identified accused from photographs slioavu to him by a detective, but Treneary said he Avas unable postively to identify accused as tho man he persuaded to buy a neAv tyre and Avho bought it under the name of H. Jones, paying for it with a £5 note and receiving £1 16s 9d in change. “I know accused by the name of Harry Jones,” said William Retiben Marsclen, garage proprietor of Wellington. “He bought a half-ton truck from me on December 9, saying he Avas going to do some contracting Avork in Napier. The truck Avas fitted Avith tyres like the one shoAvn me in Court.”

To accused, Avitness replied that as far as he kneAv Jones might have been acting as agent for someone else Avhen ho bought the truck although he neA'er gave him any cause to think that he Avas. Describing another deal on Christmas Eve, Frederick Ernest Kersey, a Indies’ outfitter, snid accused entered ljis shop to buy hosiery. He selected an expensive brand and preferred a £5 note AA’hich Avas half folded. “Across the AVidth of the counter I could see it Avas a suspicious note on account of its doubtful colour,” Avitness said. “I took it and examined it out of sight and saAV it Avas an obvious forgerv.” . . . Detective Aplin said he mtervieAvecf accused on. July 3in respect of 15 forged £5 notes which had been cashed Avith various trades people in Auckland 'on the afternoon and evening of December 24. Accused said he Avne not in Auckland on that. date, adding that he had no explanation to make and would plead not guilty it charged. . Shown four of the notes produced in evidence, Cyril Rovston Guyton Basset, manager of the Upper Queen Street branch of the National Bank, said they looked like forgeries to him. The word “Governor” Avas missing on each ot them. They ivere light in colour and a bit thin. The numbers AA-ere all the same Avith one exception. ShoAvn another bundle of 11 notes, witness said they were not genuine. “I would not say the notes arc a poor imitation ot the real thing,” Avitness said in reply to accused. “Anyone in a hurry might possibly accept one, but the avei age business man ivould not be deceived it he took the note himself. Detective-Sergeant Walsh said lie did not intend to give evidence on the 12 remaining charges of uttering foi genes, and applied for a remand for accused to appear at Wellington on Thursday on a charge of forging notes, tins being granted. Pleading not guilty to the otliei charges, accused said he had nothing to say at this stage and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail Avas refused.