RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

North Otago Times, Volume III, Issue 46, 5 January 1865, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

JANUARY 4th, 1865.

(Before T. W. Parker, Esq., R.M.)

James Clark, accused of being drunk, and of using obscene language in Itchen-street on 3rd inst. JFined £5, or 6 weeks imprisonment.

Sergeant Bullen, who assisted in his apprehension, gave evidence as to the prisoner's furious conduct on Tuesday night, and also to his notoriously bad character, he having been in jail lately for 8 months out of less than 13, under numerous convictions for vagrancy &c. William Henry Jackson, a youth of 16 or 17, was charged with issuing a valueless cheque on 3rd inst., with intent to defraud.

Andrew Braukmann, Innkeeper, Boundary Creek Accommodation House, sworn, stated that prisoner came to his house yesterday about 9 a.m. and enquired how long it was since the mail had left for the Waitaki. The coach had passed about an hour before, and he then enquired whether witness could lend him a horse to overtake the coach, that he might go home to Timaru. Witness bad no horse to give him. He afterwards went into a room and asked witness to cash a cheque for L 6, to which he assented; handed witness a cheque, now produced, on the Bank of New Zealand, dated Dunedin, 3rd January inst. Signed W. H. Jackson. Prisoner on being asked whether it was his own signature, said that it was not, but that of the runholder, Mr Jackson, on the Canterbury side of the Waitaki. The witness gave him balance of £5 17s 6d, deducting refreshment and 6d discount. The prisoner left immediately afterwards going northwards on foot. Witness would not have cashed the cheque had he not thought that it was signed by Mr Jackson of Hekaterimea, the only person of that name known to him, on the Canterbury side. Immediately afterwards, on examining the cheque, he had some doubts as to its genuineness, and proceeded to Oamaru where he presented it to the Manager of the New Zealand Bank, and was informed that it was not right, and to give no money for it; he thence proceeded to the Police Station and gave information. He did not consider the signature like Mr Jackson's, which he had seen before.

John Locke, Agent for the Bank of New Zealand, Oamaru. The prosecutor presented the cheque to him yesterday, for payment, which he refused. He knows that Mr Jackson is manager of the Hekaterimea station, but the signature to the cheque is not his. The cheque is drawn at Dunedin, and witness cannot say that it is worthless.

Robert Bullen, Sergeant of Police, Oamaru, said—ln consequence of information from the prosecutor, that he had cashed the cheque produced, received from the prisoner, and that he had presented it at the Bank and been refused payment, and from, witness' previous knowledge of the prisoner's habits, lie went after him and came up with him on the bank of the Waitaki, at Tyler and Brown's ferry. Prisoner admitted that his name was Jackson. Witness being in plain clothes told him who he was, and showed him the cheque, when prisoner acknowledged that it bore his signature, and that he had given it for cash at the accommodation which he had last passed. He admitted that he had no account at the Bank, but said he had no intention of defrauding the man, and that he intended to get a horse and return with the money and pay it back. He then tendered the balance, £5 17s 6d to witness, which he refused, and arrested the prisoner. On searching him he found another cheque on the same Bank, undated, except the year 1864, for £6, bearing the same signature; also a MS. order on the manager of the same Bank at Christchurch for £25, dated Dunedin, December 11th, 18G4, bearing same signature; also another cheque on same Bank partially filled up as to the sura - not dated or signed.

The prisoner stated that he is guilty of issuing the cheque, but that he had no intention of defrauding, as he meant to get a horse at the Waitaki and go to Timaru and return next day to pay it. He was then remanded until Saturday, the 7th inst., for further evidence.