UTTERING A FORGED CHEQUE.

Waikato Times, Volume XII, Issue 659, 15 August 1878, Page 3

UTTERING A FORGED CHEQUE.

James Gray, alias Gaffney, alias Lee, remanded from Hamilton, was charged at the Auckland Police Conrt on Monday with uttering a forged cheque for £3 15a, with intent to defraud John Andean. Mr Pardy stated the facts, and called the prosecutor, landlord of fcbe Railway

Terminus Hotel. [Prisoner : "I admit giving this man the oheqne.'] Prosecutor knew the prisoner by the name of Gaffney, which prisoner told him was his name. He came to the hotel on July 16 (Tuesday) to ca*sh a oheque. Witness asked who it was on. He presented the cheque (produced) on being supplied with a drink. The cheque was drawn by William Blackmore in favor of George Lee, for the amouat of £3 15s lOd, on the Bank of Australasia, Auckland. He said Blackmore was a farmer of the Waikato, for whom be had been doing some fencing. Thinking the cheque was right, witness cashed it. He supplied him with a bottle of, port wine, two small bottles of English ale, and a small flask of brandy. Prisoner said he waf? going to take the, port wine to a friend in the hospital. Witness gave him £3 8s lOd, not charging him for the first drink or the brandy. In about fifceen minutes after prisoner left, witness went to the Bank, and presented the cheque. He fourd there was no account in the name of William Black mo re. He went fori prisoner, and found him in the New Caledonia Hotel. He told him ths cheque was dishonoured. He replied the cheque was right enough ; that the man who had drawn it was. in Official Bay. Witness told him he had better come down and find the man. Prisoner accompanied him, but they could not find Blackmore. Witness then tried to induce prisoner to see Detective Jeffrey as to whether he could find the man who gave the cheque. He agreed to that. After they had come halfway down Bowen-street, the prisoner said there was no use of his seeing Jeffrey, for he had been in gaol before, and Jeffrey would arrest him on suspicion, and if witness went with him to the New Caledonia, he would get him the money from Mr Leslie. Witness agreed to go with him. On the way he told witness the cheque was no good, and he ought not to have done what he did do. After they gob to the New Caledonia, witness gave him back the cheque, and accused asked Mr Leslie to cash it. Mr Leslie refused. Witness and accused left the hotel together, and after going about 50 yards, prisoner refused to go further, so witness went on alone and gave information to Detective Jeffrey. Prisoner, when asked whether he had any questions to ask, said the witness had told the truth, only he had made a few mistakes, upon which it was not worth while to question him. Charles John Smyth, ledger-keeper in the Bank of Australasia, Auckland, deposed to the cheque produced being presented, and returned with the answer, "No account." No such person as the drawer had, for some years, had an acoountat the bank. Detective Grace deposed that on the 7th insb, he saw accused at the station, and shewed him the cheque, for the purpose of finding out who the drawer was, and where heresided. He said that Blackmore lived on the Cambridge Road, outside Hamilton, and that he was at present lining at Eden Crescent with a private family. Witness made inquiries. He could not find the person, and told, the prisoner so, upon which he told witness thtro was no use lookingfor him, as he was gone away to San Fran cisco; that he was not a farmer, but an ex - man -of - war's - man, and that he had left the colony. By the prisoner: I told you I knew who signed the cheque, and asked you who it was You said it was a man whom you worked for in the Piako, draining. You said there were two women living in the house who saw him give you the cheque, but I could not find the house ov the women, and you could not find the house, but you said you could bring them to prove that they saw him give you the cheque.—Constable Haddock, stationed at Hamilton, deposed to having arrested the prisoner on a description received from Auckland at Hamilton. He told prisoner what the charge was, and he said: "I am your man; I cashed the cheque right enough." Witness had been residing in Hamilton four years and nine months. He never knew a man named Wm. Blackmore residing in the Waikato. He had made enquiries since arresting the prisoner, but could find no trace of such a person.—Prisoner was committed for trial.