MYSTERY OF A CHEQUE.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 October 1920, Page 3

MYSTERY OF A CHEQUE.

A CHARGE DISMISSED. INTERESTING STRATFORD CASE. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Stratford, Oct. 12. A charge against a young man named Ralph S. Death, of having on September i'i stolen a cheque drawn on the National Bank of New Zealand, Stratford, in favor of Charles Richard Abbott, for the sum of £4, and with having forged the endorsement of C. 1!. Abbott to the cheque, was heard at the Stratford Magistrate's Court today, before Messrs. .1. McCluggage, and S. li. Hunter, J.IVs. Sergeant Dale conducted the prosecution, and Mr. A. Coleman appeared for the accused. Sergeant Dale said the accused had made a statement to the police which made the case interesting, and deserving of very careful consideration by the Bench. After getting the statement the police made further inquiries, but witnesses denied absolutely that anything in the statement was correct. The police therefore could only bring the prisoner to Stratford, and if he was found not guilty they must do their best to get the right man into the box, Although it might turn out that there was no case against the accused, he had been brought to Stratford in order thai justice might be done to him and to everybody. Charles Richard Abbot!, fanner, Swansea Load, staled that he received the cheque (produced) from Messrs. Speuee, Rutherfurd, Maealistev. and Coleman on September 21 lie put it in his vest pocket and on going home hung his. vest, lip. He .did m/: sec the cheque again. He had not endor-ed the cheque at any time, and the endorsement on it was not, in his handwriting. To Mr. Coleman: Witness was, not at Davey's tables on the 22nd. Daniel Patrick Sullivan, cashier at the National Bank, said the cheque was presented to him by the accused, who received the ;C4. John Curtis Allen, manager of the. National Bank, said he had had considerable experience of handwriting, and he did'not consider there was any similarity between the handwriting of accused's signature ami the endorsement mi the cheque-. Harold Victor Ru-eoc, a tailor by trade, on; at present occupied as Si jockey, slid lie rode horse- for his father, one of which was named Rapid Five, Witness remembered September 2:1. as that was the day of the "Wanganui races, lie did not go to Davey's stables! that day, but might have gone there the; following day. Witness was quite cor- 1 lain he had not seen the prisoner a! the ' stables on the 2:! rd or 24th. On ncithes ' of those days nor on any other <ln\s, did : he have any conversation with Death ve- ! garding the backing of horse- a,& the I Wanganui races. Witnc. .■ did not give j licensed ten shillings to pis. on it horse! limning- at the Wanganu: race.. \\"it - > ncjfs did not have any bets <m tit,. Way. ganui races on September 2:! rd n.nd -tf'ih. ile wa-< not in the olfcg i,~ Dua-ovY. r.tab.les on the 2:!nl and 24th. He |,'. l( | not been in Dave,v's oCilcc for three j years. Witness denied any knowledge I •jf the cheque or the endorsement on ii. j Sergeant Dale then proceeded to read j from the signed statement made by the j prisoner. In it accused said he had been > engaged as a stable hand at Davey's I

'tables. At about 10 :• .si. on September 2.'!. a man whose namo "he did not know came into Hie stable, bringing with him a horse called linpid Fire. After speaking about the Wangimni meeting (his man -.live acciisotl ids and told him to back Kgmont Park. Tlio man also said lie would like to back While Hanger, but he had no money, only a cheque. Accused said he would cash the cheque. The man came out of the oflice with a cheque in his hand. Accused did not know how the cheque was made out, but the endorsement of the name Abbott was on it at the time. Accused presumed the cheque was alright, and handed the man C 4, the man stating that accused would set the monev at the hank. On September 23rd recused cashed the cheque. lie was i'nld by Kendall that the man's name, was Ruseoe. The first thing accused knew of the. trouble was when a constable approached him at Matamata. .Accused denied forging the signature of Abbott. Sergeant Dale" (to the witness Ru 3 - ioc): Von say that statement, is untrue? Witness: Yes. To .Mr. Coleman: Witness did not know the accused. He. "had never seen him. Ceorge Mitchell eaid he was known as a bookmaker. On September 23rd at about \\ a.m., Ruseoe and Death .were, talking inside the stable. One of them called witness. Thev wanted three Mts bets. Witness did'not hear liiiseoe ask Death to return 10s to him. Witness was quite certain Loth men were there. There was nobody else present at the time, and witness saw nothing, nor was anything sa i c i auont ~ cheque. Witness was only there a short time. Witness declared that the evidence he had given was all he knew, and ■vas all true. The Bench intimated that they would issue a certificate indemnifying witness trom any proceedings against him, as a result of the evidence he had'given. Mr. Coleman asked that the charge be. dismissed without the accused being ■ ailed upon to give evidence. There*' was no direct evidence against him; rt was only a set of circiiniKtai>tial farts The evidence of Mitchell, given at some risk to himself, supported accused's story. Ruseoe had denied being in the stable but Mitchell's evidence "showed that die had been there.

Mr. MoCluggage said the Bench was satisfied that accused's statement was correct. It was borne out by- Mitchell, who had nothing to gain in 'givin* the evidence he dirt. The charge'would be dismissed. The Bench believed accused had been fully truthful, and he left the Court without a stain on his character Sergeant Dale: Accused would never have been brought here if we had known all we know now. . Air. MoCluggage said (lie Bench desired to express the opinion that the police had been absolute!v fair in the ma Iter. <■ - . i