CHARGE OF FORGERY.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 September 1921, Page 6

CHARGE OF FORGERY.

CHEQUE LEADS TO TROUBLE.

ACCUSED PLEADS GUILTY. In the New Plymouth Court yesterday a young man named Raymond Woodward appeared before Messrs. H. R. Cattley and J. Therkleson, J.P.’s, on a charge of forging and uttering a cheque for £l7 at New Plymouth on September 2. The cheque was supposed to have been drawn by H. Gilmour on the Bank of New Zealand at Waverley in favor of Redge Woods.

Detective-Sergeant Cooney, in outlining the case, said the accused went into the shop of Mr. Stone, jeweller, of Stratford, and asked to be allowed to fill in a- cheque. The cheque was on the Bank of New Zealand, Stratford, but the accused crossed out Stratford and essayed to fill in Waverley. He, however, misspelt Waverley, and then tore up the cheque, obtaining another from Mr. Stone. He then came on toNew Plymouth, and between five and. six o’clock on the 2nd inst. went into Mr. Hookham’s shop in Devon Street and bought from Mr. Lambert, Mr. Hookham’s shop manager, a hat for £1 Is, tendering a cheque for £l7, which he asked Lambert to cash. Some enquiries were made regarding the cheque, and Lambert was assured by accused and a companion who was with him that it was all right, and that Gilmour was a well-known man of Waverley. Later Lambert put the matter in the hands of the police, as the result of enquiries made. Evidence was given by J. K. Stone, jeweller, of Stratford, to the effect that Woodward came into his shop on September 2 and asked for the loan of a pen and ink. He filled up a cheque on .-the Bank of New Zealand, but spoilt it by misspelling the town of Waverley. He tore up the cheque and asked if witness could give him one. He gave Woodward the last cheque he had in his book. He did not notice any sign of drink on him, but alter he left he thought accused “must have had one or two in.”

George V. Lambert, shop manager for W. T. Hookham, Devon Street, New Plymouth, said Woodward came into his shop on September 2, between five and six in the evening, and purchased a , hat, for which he tendered a cheque and asked if it could be cashed. Witness asked who Gilmour was, and accused replied that he was a farmer and business man at Waverley. There was another man, present, who vouched for the cheque being correct. In response to his request accused endorsed the cheque, but the signature was “Ray Woods”. On this being pointed out accused endorsed it “Redge Woods”. Next morning the teller at the National Bank informed him that there was no branch of the Bank of New Zealand at Waverley. Witness saw the accused at the racecourse the same afternoon, and told him of this. Woodward replied that it was the Bank of New South Wales. Witness said it was not, and accused then said he could get it fixed up all right. Detective Cooney, who

present, then arrested accused.

Detective-Sergeant Cooney gave evidence on the above lines. 1 At the police station the accused said: “I got the cheque from Gilmour at the Hawep races”. Witness then drew accused’s attention to the fact that the writing on the body of the cheque and the endorsements had all been done by rhe same person. Woodward then admitted writing the cheque and signing Gilmour’s name. Woodward added that he had been drinking for several days. When, searched lie had £l3 3s 3d in his possession. ' Accused then gave evidence, admitting the charge, lie said he did not know the Iman who went into Hookham’s shop with him, but bad met him earlier in the week at Hawera. To Detective-Sergeant Cooney: He left Aore about six weeks ago, and had attended the Wellington. Dannevirke, Hawera and New Plymouth races. He was a horsetrainer, but- during the winter months ran a skating rink, and had skates valued at £l5O in the goods shed at Wellington. He had been arrested on a charge of stealing skates at Ashburton, but proved his innocence. Ihe day after he cashed the cheque at Hookham’s he bought a suit of clothes for £8 10s at the Modern Tailors. Accused formally pleaded guiity, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.