STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 November 1915, Page 3

STRATFORD.

FORGERY CASES, (From Our Own Corrpsn .nJciit.) Stratford, Wednesday. Charles Tomlin, alias Jo .n M.-l.ijiii'd, alias Bruce McDonald, la'oiivi', was charged today that lie. urged I'ie nume of W. Godkin to a cheque for ,ClO, and uttered the same to Newton King, of Stratford, well knowing the same to be a forgery. Joseph M. Hignett, head salesman for Newon King, said that on Tuesday, September "21st, accused called him across the road and asked him about Campbell's farm, as, if possible, he'would like to buy it. He invited him into the office, and gave him particulars. We discussed finance, and accused said he had £ISOO left him. He said he knew the place, and asked witness to get it as cheap as possible. Witness wanted £SOO down for it, and balance on mortgage, and accused said. "Get it for i'4oo if you can." Accused advised him to write him care post oflice, or Avona Boardiiigliouse. Saw accused again after lunch, and again discussed the purchase of the farm, and he asked witness if Jhe banks were closed. Witness replied, "Yes." Accused was sober; about an hour after he was in Mr. King's office, and said, "Do you think I could change a cheque here?" It was a cheque for £lO, signed "W. Godkin." Witness spoke to the accountant and told him the cheque was alright. He saw the cheque was made payable to C. Holmes, but he could not identify the cheque produced.

Claude Stanley AVilliams, a cashier in the employ of Newton King, recognised aceuse<K,a3 the man who called at the counter and produced a cheque signed by Mr. Godkin in favour of C. Holmes for the sum of £lO. the cheque heing on the National Bank. Stratford. Witness told accused he had not £lO in cash. Witness considered the cheque was a genuine one and had no reason to doubt the cheque. Witness said he could give him £4 and the firm's cheque for the balance. Accused accepted it and endorsed the cheque "C. Holmes," ami witness gave him the £4 in cash, and the firm's cheque made payable to order. On September 22, he paid the cheque accused had given him into the credit of Mr. Newton King at the Bank of New Zealand. Next day, it was returned to him, marked "signature unlike," and the cheque was subsequently handed over to the police. The accused at the time he handed witness the cheque was quite sober, but had had a drink or two.

I'rod YV. Whittle, licensee of the Stratford Hotel, identified ae.-used as having presented a cheque drawn by Newton King for £O, and requested witness to endorse the cheque, and he did so in his presence, and witness cashed same. Witness tendered the cheque over the counter at the Bank of New Zealand, and from something the bank officials told him lie took the cheque to Newton King, and Williams paid him £ll for it. Daniel P. Sullivan, ledger keeper at the National Bank, said on September •213t he received the cheque for '£lo from the Bank of New Zealand drawn by W. Godkin,' and endorsed "C. Holmes." Witness referred the cheque to the manager, and was instructed to return it to the Bank ■of New Zealand marked, ''signature unlike." William Godkin, farmer at Turakawa, also gave evidence. Accused pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.

The accused was further charged with, that on Sept. 20, he did forgo, the name of W. Godkin to a cheque for £lO, and utter same to Richard Smith, at Toko, well knowing the same to be a forgery. After evidence had been given by Richard Smith, licensee of the Toko Hotel, and Louis A. Henderson, clerk in the Bank of New Zealand, Daniel P. Sullivan, ledger-keeper, National Bank, and W. Godkin, farmer, accused pleaded guilty, and was convicted to the Supreme Court for sentence. Accused also pleaded guilty to uttering a valueless cheque of £5, onRichard Smith, and was convicted to the Supreme Court for sentence.

GENERAL, • News has been received that Mrs. Cameron, wife of the late Dr. J. P. Cameron, formerly in practice in Stratford, who left to reside in England, died and was tuned at sea, about a fortnight after the steamer in which she left New Zealand. The local branch of the Law Society is holding a meeting on Friday afternoon to consider a suitable memorial for the late Lieut-Colonel Malone.

The Stratford Borough Council intend laying the foundation atone of the Municipal Buildings on Thursday week. The stone will bear the names of the Mayor and Councillors, and Town Cleric. Some people are wondering where the late Council come in seeing they done all the hard work in getting the "plans ready, and the present Council simply accepted the tenders for the building. But what of the expenses? The money saved could well be spent in repairing the asphalt footpaths in the town.