MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 218, 1 June 1915, Page 4

MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

A FORGING CASE. At the Magistrate’s Court this morning, before Mr R. H. Haselden, S;M;, a man named George Brown was, charged with uttering and forging a cheque for £lO, made out in the name of Anthony Moghan. Sergt, Harvey prosecuted; the accused was undefended. ■ R, L Andrews, barman at the Gretna Hotel, Taihape, stated that he remembered toth April last.- He. was in the har on that day. The accused cam© into the bar in the afternoon. He purchased a bottle of whisky, and two packets of cigarettes. He tendered payment by a cheque (produced) and stated that he' lnwl been working for Mr Moghan. Witness asked about the signture, and accused answered that he had endorsed the cheque. In answer to Sergt. Hdrvey witness said he knew the accused; and knew he was working for Meghan, He B&X* accused one £5 note and the balance in silver as change.

Anthony Moghan -gave evidence that ho was a farmer, residing two miles from Taihape Post Office, He knew the' accused," who, had been working for him, but who left' bn April sth. H e gave the accused a cheque for 15/ on April 3, being balance of wages du 0 to date, for which he received a receipt.

•In reply to Scrgfc.' Harvey, witness said he left the house at 1 p.m. and returned at 5 p.m. Th 0 accused was in the house during that time. On his return, witness found that a box had been broken open; He also found a cheque on the floor of the bathroom. Jit tallied with the number on h|s block. The signatures on both cheques were not his.

Arthur Reginald Blennerhassett, ledger keeper at the Bank of New Zealand. stated that he knew Anthony Moghan, who had an account at the bfnk of New Zealand. He knew Meghan’s signature. The cheque in question cam e through the Bank of Australasia in the course of the day’s exchanges, but the signature on it was not at all like that of MOghan’s. Constable Anderson of Feilding stated that he arrested the accused on May 25th at Feilding. When charged the accused said I made a great mistake that time. I don’t suppose they will be too hard on me for the first time \ ’

His Worship asked the accused if he wished to make a statement. Accused replied in the negative and pleaded guilty. He was then committed to the Supreme Court at Wellington for sentence