MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 83, 4 May 1909, Page 4

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Mr. H. S. Fitzhcrbcrt, S.M., presided! over a sitting of the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning. BREACH OF A I'ROUIIiITION ORDER. Edward Pilkington, a young ma'i, pleaded guilty to a charge of procuring liquor while a prohibition order was in force against him. He was convicted and fined 10s and costs, 7s, h default 48 hours' imprisonment, YPUXG WOMAN PLEADS GUILTY' • TO FORGERY. A young woman named May Jenkins was charged with having at New Plymouth, on April 20, forged a cheque for £1 Os on the Bank of New Zealand, purporting it to lie signed by M. J. Cottier, and uttered it to E. C. Rennell. Sergeant liaddrcll prosecuted, and Mr. Quilliam appeared for accused. 'Mary Jane Cottier, widow, living on the Carringtou Road, deposed that accused had been living with her as lady help for the past five or six months. Witness paid her 12s a week, sometimes fortnightly and sometimes three weeks. She paid accused by cheque. Witness banked with the Bank of New Zealand, New Plymouth. On Aprft 20 witness was away from the house for the greater part of the day, and accused was in charge. The cheque produced came out of witness' cheque-book, the number on it corresponding with the number oi a butt in the book. On the day in question the book was locked in a cupboard in witness' " snuggery." The cheque had not been written by her, but by someone else. Her name was not on it. Witness knew the handwriting. It was written by accused. Ernest Cuthbert Rcimcll, chemist, employed by S. Teed and Co., New Plymouth, stated that on April 20th, late in the afternoon, accused came into the shop and made a small purchase, in payment she presented the cheque, produced. Witness cashed lac cheque, giving 'her the necessary change. Witness afterwards handed the cheque to his em-, ployer, Mr. Teed. David Teed, chemist, New Plymouth, recognised the cheque produced, having received it from the last witness. On lodging it with the Bank of New Zealand it was returned marked " Signature unlike." Detective Boddain stated that in consequence of a complaint made to him on April 27 by Mr. Teed, he interviewed the accused at Mrs. Cottier's house. He showed her the cheque produced, drew her attention to the fact that it was made out in favor of one Miss Jenkins, and asked her if she knew anything about it. She replied'that she was very sorry, that one day her employer, Mrs. Cottier, was away, and she' took Mrs. Cottier's cheque-book out of the cupboard. She took a cheque out of the book, filled it in for £1 (is, signed Mrs. Cottier's name to it, and cashed it on the same day at Mr. Teed's shop. ' To Mr. Quilliam: Before witness charged accused with the crime sue voluntarily admitted it to him. iihe also gave him the particulars he had mentioned, which he subsequently found to be correct. He did not arrest accused. She appeared in Court on summons. This concluded the case for the prose-, cution.

On being formally cautioned, accused stated that she had'nothing to say. She pleaded guilty. Accused was committed for sentence to the next sitting of the Supreme Court in New Plymouth, on June 25. Bad was allowed in one surety of £'2s.