SUPREME COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVIII, Issue 288, 14 May 1915, Page 8

SUPREME COURT.

A W'KUJXGTO-S" CASK. Wellington, Last Night. At the Supremo Court charges of dishonest dealing were preferred against Krnest Alfred Welch ami James Gibson Bryant. The specific charges related to the drawing and presentation of a cheque for CT'.IO. Welch and liryant were charged:—(l) win, the theft on February ]•>. l!)lr>. of the cheque, the property of the New Zealand (Joverriment; (2) with attempted theft. Bryant was also charged with receiving the cheque, knowing it to have been dishonestly obtained.

Mr. Meredith, for the Crown, said Welch had formerly been Kegistrar <4 the Native Land Court for the South Island. As such he ftud [lower to operate on the law trust account, applying funds for the. benefit of natives interested in the trust. The cheque for t!7M was drawn not on a form out of accused s own book, l>ntt on one out of the book of the Kegistrar of Akaroa Native? District, liryant presented it, at the Hank of New Zealand, and the teller, having his suspicions aroused, sent for a detective. When questioned as to his name, liryant said that lie was T. Burns, a tradesman, of Tinakori Road. Later he said that he picked up the cheque in .Molesworth Street. Again lie said that he worked in a t>overnnient oflice and he denied that Welch gave him the cheque. The jury found both men guiltv. Sentruce was deferred.