TESTS IN SIGNATURES.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 October 1920, Page 7

TESTS IN SIGNATURES.

■ STRATFORD CHEQUE CASE. •former witness charged. • (From Ow Own Correspondent.) Stratford, Oct. 15. Harold Victor Ruseoe, a young man who garo evidence at the Stratford Magistrate's Court on Tuesday last on a charge of theft and forgery preferred against Ralph S. Death, appeared at the Magistrate's Court to-day to answer similar charges against himself in respect of a cheque for £4 drawn on the National Bank; of New Zealand in favor of Charles Richard Abbott. At the hearing of the charges against Death, which were dismissed by the Bench, Ruseoe denied the truth of a statement made to the police by Death that the cheque in question had been handed to him by Ruseoe. Messrs. C. D. Sole and F. J. McDonald, J/P.'s, were the presiding Justices on the Bench today, and Mr. C- H. Croker appeared on behalf of the accused. Sergeant Dale conducted the prosecution for the Crown. Ralph S. Death said that on September 23 lie was employed as a stable hand at Davey's stableß. He left the stables on September 24, going to the Wanganui races and from there he went to Matatnata to his relatives. He remembered the 23rd of September because the Wanganui races were held on that day. He was still employed at Davey's stables on the 23rd. Ha identified Harold Ruseoe as the man who came into the stable 'that morning between 10 and 10.30. Witness did not know Ruseoe previous to that and had not spoken to him before. Witness and Ruseoe had a conversation regarding the most likely winners at the Wanganui races. The prisoner had a racehorse called Rapid Fire with liim when he came into the stable. Witness did not know at that time whom the horse belonged to, but had since ascertained that it belonged to Mr. Ruseoe, senr. Accused gave witness 10s to put' on Egjnont Park saying that tlie money was to be put on with George Mitchell, who was known to witness as a bookmaker. Witness did not remember exactly what Ruseoe said in regard to that bet. Ruseoe afterwards said he would like to have another bet on White Ranger, a horse running in tho Haek and Hunters' Steeplechase. White Hanger did win the race. Accused said he only had a cheque and witness offered to change it for him. Witness held the horse while accused went into Davey's office near the front door of the stables. Up to that time witness had not seen the chequo or any cheque. -Accused was a few seconds in the office and came out with the cheque (produced) in his hands. Witness had a casual look at the cheque and Saw the endorsement of C. R. Abbott upon it. Witness gave accused £4 in exchange for the cheque, believing it to bo alright. John Curtis Allen, manager of the National Bank of New Zealand, Stratford, said he claimed to be an expert in handwriting, but would not say ho was infallible. In his opinion there was a great similarity in tlie endorsement of the name C. E. Abbott on tho back of the cheque and the signatures of H. V. Ruseoe on exhibits B, C, and D (produced). Mr. Croker handed to witness four specimen signatures of the name C. R. Abbott, which witness said were obviously disguised signatures. He would not be prepared to hang any man on the detection of a signature, Witness said that in his opinion three out of the four signatures were written by the game person. It was possible that the fourth signature was written by the same person in a disguised hand-writ-ing.

Ralph S- Death was re-eslled, and to Mr. Croker, said that the four signatures handed in by Mr. Croker were similar to his handwriting, but he could not say whether one had been written by him. He had written the name C. R. Abbott on a slip of paper at the hearing on Tuesday. It was done at the r.nsgestion of the Bench. Mr. Croker explained to the Court that one of the four signatures was the one written by Death, and the other three were copies of tlmt signature. The slip of paper with the, signature written by Death had been given to him (Mr. 'Croker) by Sergeant Dale that morning, and ho bad put. it and the other three in, in order to test, the value of the expert opinion on handwriting given by the, witness Allen. The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge and reserved his defence. He was committed for trial at the next criminal sessions of the Supreme Court at New Plymouth on December bail being allowed, self in one surety of .€2OO and two other securities of £IOO each-