MAGISTERIAL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2895, 6 July 1882, Page 2

MAGISTERIAL.

TIMAEH—THIS DAT. (Before J. Beswick, Esq., E.M., and E. El worthy and B. G.' Stericker, Esqs.) UTTERING. William Davie, on .remand, was charged with uttering a forged cheque. Mr Pearson, on behalf of the accused, applied for a remand" in order that a witness might be brought forward. Mr Inspector Pender said other witnesses had been brought at great expense and trouble. His Worship decided to proceed with the case.

The following evidence was taken Arthur Blennerhasaet, draper’s assistant at Coy and Drummond’s, remembered prisoner coming, on the 17th of last month, to his firm’s shop. Ho bought the trousers and vest (produced) for £2 12s 6d. He gave a cheque for them. The cheque produced was the one. Witness gave him the balance in change. Witness remarked at the time to. accused, that he knew no such person in Timaru as Button, whose signature purported to be on the cheque. This was between two and three in the day. The cheque was sent on and dishonored. Witness saw it once again. To -Mr Pearson —I swear I spoke about the name on the cheque. I asked about the man Button, whose signature the cheque bore, ' Robert T. Button,, farmer, Peel Forest, 14 miles from Geraldine, said ho knew no one of his name in South Canterbury, He did not know the signature on the cheque (produced), nor did he know anything about the cheque. Witness did not remember ever seeing prisoner before. The initials’ on the cheque, E.H., were not his; his initials were R.T. David Turnbull said he was engaged in his father’s shop. He had seen the prisoner in his father’s shop on Saturday, 17th of June. He asked for a blank cheque for Mr McOallum, baker, Temuka. Witness gave him one. The cheque (produced) corresponded with the block witness now produced. , Constable' Thoreau said prisoner had stayed with him (witness) for a month before the 17th. Witness saw accused for the last time at 12.30 on the 17th. Accused left abruptly. Witness next saw accused in custody. Accused had asked witness to buy him some clothes. William E. Wilson, boarding-house keeper, Timaru, said he knew a person named Holmes, and had seen him with accused. .Ho saw Holmes last about the beginning of Juno. Witness believed Holmes to have cleared out. To Mr Pearson—Holmes was a low sot, bare-faced man. Ido not think ho was particularly honest. He had given me a valueless order, which I have in my pocket. « Henry Jabcz Luxford, ledger keeper in the Bank of Now Zealand, Timaru, said no person of the name of R. H. Button had an account at his Bank. There had never been such an account. This was the prosecutor’s case.

Mr Pearson asked His Worship to observe that he had a witness at Waihi Bush who could prove the cheque to have been given to the accused, and that accused knew nothing of the forgery. His Worship consented to adjourn the case to Tuesday, at 10.30 punctually, unless the witness proved to be. in town. In that case the ’ matter would be proceeded with to-day. EECEIVING STOLEN PEOPEBTY. Ah Ling was charged with receiving a quantity of stolen property, Mr Haraersley, who appeared for accused, asked the Bench whether the case would be dealt with summarily or as an indictable offence. His Worship said the latter course would be taken. An interpreter’ Wong Tack, entered the box and was duly sworn. Ho, then explained the nature of the charge to accused, who, through him, pleaded “Not Guilty." W. Blanchett (11 years old) deposed to assisting in the theft of the bolts and Muntz metal (produced) from Gibson’s, store. Witness’s companions took the bolts to Ah Ling's place. To Mr Hatpersley—l recognise the metal produced as like wo took. I, was charged with stealing the other day. James Lament corroborated the evidence of the last witness. When they took in the metal it fell om the floor, and Ah Ling said “ Hush, don’t make a noise ; are there any bobbies about p” Accused afterwards added that he would cut witness and his friends’ . throats if the “ bobby” came to know ’, it. In the gaol yard afterwards accused” told witness to say he had been sent away three times by him (accused.) To Mr Hamersley—We went twice to accused’s place. On each occasion , for the purpose of selling copper. Accused talked good enough English for me to understand.

Henry Browning gave corroborative evidence as to the sale of the metali

The Bench fully committed accused to take his trial at the ensuing sessions of the Supreme Court, bail being fixed thushimself at £IOO and two sureties of £IOO each. : '