R. M. COURT, GISBORNE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 115, 25 April 1884, Page 2

R. M. COURT, GISBORNE.

(Before J. Booth, Esq., R.M.) THURSDAY. FOBOEBY, "The previous portion of this case appeared in our last.] Nopera deposed—l know accused. I remember being in Andrew’s store at Tologa Bay, sometime this month. I did not go there for anything. I cannot say what accused went for. When we came away, he had a parcel. While there Andrew’s gave accused something to sign. Money passed between them then. C. P. Brown deposed—l went to Tologa Bay on the 29th of last month. I know the accused, and he was employed by me. I have an account at the Band of New Zealand. I have a cheque-book, the numbers of which are from 172,576 to 172,600. I had that book at Tologa Bay. I missed five cheques out of the back of the book. The cheque produced has come out of my book. It is numbered 172,976. I used to keep the cheque-book in a pocket in my coat, which I generally left off when at work. Accused could easily have got at the book without my knowledge. To Mr. DeLautour—l did not miss the cheques till Sergeant Bullen came to me about this case. I was photographing Maories. During the time accused was with me I did not miss anything, and was very much pleased with him. Constable Stagpole deposed—On the 16th inst., I arrested the accused at Tologa Bay. He seemed very much annoyed at the time. He said ; “ This is the first I have heard about it, I ought to have known about it before. I have not written any cheque or cashed any for a long time.” I said he was accused of three attempts at forgery. He said he had had no cheque and did not do it, I told him it was no use his saying that, as he had bought a suit of clothes and other things lately. He said he only bought a suit of clothes from Mr. Trimmer which he paid for. I examined a box belonging to the accused in his mother’s house. I found a lot of socks, which are produced, and a suit of new clothes I took a book off his person, which was a diary. To Mr. DeLatour—l did not caution the accused when I arrested him. I made a note of his conversation when I got to my office. This was the case for the prosecution. Mr. DeLautour contended that no evidence had been adduced to support the information. Sergeant Bullen submitted that a priina facie case of forgery had been proved. His Worship was also of that opinion, and he thought the circumstances of the case warranted him in sending to a higher Court. The accused was therefore committed to take his trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court to be held a Gisborne. The Court was engaged all to-day in hearing the case, Paramata v. Waitari, in which the plaintiff sought to recover £2O, for the wrongful conversion of five horses. A number of native witnesses were examined, in whose evidence there was quite a conglomeration of horses, mares, and foals. Ultimately His Worship gave judgment in favor of the defendant, with costs £6 15s.