The Appeal Court. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH, UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Last Night.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1388, 26 May 1881, Page 2

The Appeal Court. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH, UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Last Night.

At the Appeal Court to-day, judgment was reserved in Regina v. Moritzon (Ounedin). In Regina v. Rice (Dunedin), the conviction was quashed. The particulars of the case are that Rice had been bailiff of the Magistrate's Court ; and a summons was issued against William, Thomas, and Andrew Patterson, carrying on business as Patterson and Sons. Rice served the summons, amounting to £8 7s od, on Thomas Patterson, and said it would save expense if the amount was paid to him. Thomas gave him a cheque, but signed it " William Patterson." The signature of the firm was ••'William Patterson and Sons," Thomas omitted "and Sons." The cheque was presented at the bank ; but the signature being irregular it was dishonored. Subsequently Thomas made the correction, ana Rice obtained the cash, and was alleged to have wrongly appropriated it to his own use. He was charged at the Supreme Court with embezzlement, and the jury brought in a verdict of guilty, the following questions being reserved for the opinion of the Appeal Court :— (1). Whether prisoner received the cheque by virtue of his employment? (2). Whether the cheque being signed with the name of other than that of the person who made it, and which there was no evidence that the person who made it had authority to use, is a valuable security ? — The Court gave judgment as above.