ALLEGED FORCERY

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10686, 13 July 1912, Page 3

ALLEGED FORCERY

A YOUTH PLEADS GUILTY. In the- Magistrate's Court at Mas-'::-rton yesterday, before Mr. L. G. Iteid, S.M., a youth seventeen yearc cf age, named James O'Conno]], alias James Schow, was charged with having, on July 10th, forged the name of It. Knox to a cheque for £32 17s 9d, and uttered the document to John Lincoln Murray Robert Knox, horse trainer at Opaki, said that accused came to work for him on May 20th. Ho gave his name as James Scliow. He lived in the house, and could easily get witness's cheque-book. The signature on the cheque was not his, neither was the other writing thereon. On July 9th accused went to Mastcrton to get a tooth pulled. He said that he would return at three o'clock in the afternoon, but did not do so. Witness did not miss the cheque out of the book tiil the police informed him. E. It. Cameron, toller of the Bank r,f New South Wnlos, said that the signature on the cheque was not that of It. Knox. It was presented for payment by the accused. Noting the vouthFuhiess of accused, ho called him into the office. Witness askrd accused if l<e had obtained the chequo from Mr Knox, and he declared that he did. Witness informed accused that it was not Mr Knox's signature. Witness then told accused to take it straight back to Mr Knox, and not to part with it in the town. John L. Murray gave evidence that ! accussed came to him and tendered the cheque in payment for goods. Accused told witness that ho could not get the cheqiie cashed as the bank wa i ; dosed. Witness himself '•thoP'orijion. went t's .the bank and' ■asc&'ifiM that the cheque had been dishonoured the day previously. On returning to the shop wittier found that accused had disappeared. Constable Brown gfiVb evidence as to arresting the accused.at the li!niJ'J° Ki{ ; ' Jimction Hotel on Thursday. Accused ', said lie forged the cheque in order to get money' to return to South Africa. Accused stated that he wrote the cheque out and tried to cash it in order 1 to get back to South Africa as he could not get work here. His right name was James O'Connell, and he went under the name of James Schow at the stables. His parents were dead, and lie had arrived in New Zealand a short ' while ago. He pleaded guilty. ' Accused was committed to the Wei- j lington Supreme Court for sentence.