CHARGE OF FORGERY.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 November 1921, Page 5

CHARGE OF FORGERY.

TWO WOMEN ON TRIAL. THE SIGNATURE OF A WILL. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. At the Police Court to-day, Mary Ann Miller and Elizabeth Cecilia Cochrane, mother and daughter, were charged with forging a document purporting to be the will of Ernest Delius, datea April, 1917. W. A. Hawkins, Registrar of the Supreme Court, Wellington, gave evidence that he received an application for probate in the will from the Public Trustee. A. K. Duthie, solicitor, deposed that he, at the request of Mrs. Miller, got the deceased’s keys from the hospital and opened his boxes, from which Mrs. Miller removed an envelope containing the will. He examined the document and told Mrs. Miller that pelius had left her everything. She appeared wildly excited, and almost threw her arms round witness’ neck. Witness subsequently found that the attestation was defective. He advertised for the witnesses, but they could not be found. In May, 1917, he happened to have an agreement signed by Delius, and he compared the signature with that on the will. He got serious doubts about the validity of the will, and he declined to apply for probate. H. P. Morant, public accountant, gave evidence that the signature on the will was not that of an old man, but of a voung woman, and that the woman was one of the accused.

A. R. Grierson, bank employee, gave corroborative expert evidence. Both accused were committed for trial.