A DEAD MAN'S DOLLARS

CELESTIAL IN TROUBLE. CHOW FONG COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. At the Magistrate's Court, Greymouth, yesterday, before Mr J. G. L. Hewitt, S.M., two Chinamen named Chow Fong, storekeeper, and Low Pekong, both oi Greymouth, were jointly charged, on the information of Thomas Gibson, detective, of Christchurch, that they. did. on or about December 10th, 1912, at Greymouth unlawfully conspire by fraudulent means to defraud the Union Bank of Australia, Ltd., of the sum of £293 11s. A second charge preferred against Low Pekong alleged that he did forge the name of Loo Yip (deceased) to a cheque for £293 11s on the Union Bank of Australia, Ltd., Greymouth, and caused one William M. Stubbs to act on it as if it were genuine. Mr Joyce appeared on behalf of the f.ccused Chow Fong ? and it was decided to take the first-named charge first. Inspector Phair conducted the proceedings on behalf of the police. Frank R. Cressey, manager of the Union Bank of Australia at Nelson, deposed that in February, 1912, he was manager of the Bank's branch in Greymouth. He remembered Chow Fong ntroducmg a Chinaman to him on or about February 24th, 1912. The application for a deposit slip (produced) showed that a deposit of £285 was lodged in the Bank by Loo Yip, who was introduced by Chow Fong, the date of the deposit being February 24th, 1912. The signature to the Blip was t,hat of the Chinaman introduced by Chow Fong and "was made in witness' presence. Speaking from memory, witness said thai no other Chinaman i.ad a fixed deposit at the Bank at that time. The deposit receipt produced, No. 8734, for £285, was signed by witness, wlio presumed it was handed to the accused by the teller. He identified Chow Fong, but not Low Pekong. • To Mr Joyce : He could n«»t 6ay if the accused. Low Pekong, was the person who accompanied Chow Fong to the Bank. Susan Kitto, Matron at the. Greymouth Hospital, produced records of that institution, showing that en September 2nd, 1912, a Chinamar named 1100 Yip was admitted to the hospital from Blackwater. 'He was 54 years of age, married, birthplace Canton (China), had been 16 years in New Zealand, a miner by occupation, nearest friend Chow Fong and one child over 14 years of age. He was admited at 9.15 o'clock in the morning in an unconscious condition, and died on the same day at 8.30 p.m. . Tlie deceased "had no amount of principal and interest (cheque produced*). The cheque was signed in the property on entering the hospital. The deceased had suffered from appoplexy. Chow Fong had brought the deceased in, and the particulars were taken by the Ward Sister and, so far as witness knew, the personal particulars given in tlie record were furnished by Chow Fong. William Mackintosh Stubbs, manager of the Union Bank of Australia. Greymouth, in December, 1912, remembered Chow Fong calling on witness on December 10th, 1912. Chow Fong called alone and desired to raise an advance of £275. Chow Fong said he had a Chinaman friend who would assist him, and asked it the matter could be arranged on that basis. The name of the friend was given as Loo Yip. Witness told Chow Fong if Loo Yip was prepared to leave a cheque tor deposit and interest, the matter could be arranged. Later, on the same aay, Chow Fong returned with another Chinaman, introducing the latter as Loo Yip. The deposit receipt was handed over by the Chinaman who accompanied Chow Fong. The receipt produced is tue one handed over. The man purporting to be •Loo Yip endoised it in witness' presence, presence ot witness. Chow long witnessed the "Loo Yip" signature. The cneque was post-dated to February 2<tth, 1913, the date on which the deposit matured. The deposit receipt and cheque were left with witness at the Bank. The receipt and cheque were lodged for collection on account of Chow Fong and the latter got his advance of £255 on December 10th, 1912, drawing a cheque for that amount. On February 24th, 1913, Chow Fong and the introduced Chinaman again called at the Bank and the full transaction was explained by witness and made as clear as possible to them. To make the matter clearer, the full amount (the amount of the cheque £293 lls) was handeu over and placed in front of the Chinaman purpoiting to be Loo Yip ? whom witness took to be the depositor. He then explained to him that £275 was wanted to pay off Chow Fong's overdraft, as arranged. The £275 was handed over by Loo Yip and placed to the credit of Ohow Fong's account, the balance being taken away by Chow Fong and his mate. So far as witness remembered, each of them took a portion of the balance. Shortly afterwards Chow Fong ceased to do business with the Union Bank. John James McLeod, clerk in the Union Bank at Greymouth. in 1912, identified the application for deposit receipt of £285 made in February of that year in the name of Loo Yip. He could not remember who handed the receipt to the Chinaman. He identified Chow Fong in the matter, but did not know whetnel Low Peking was the other of the two Chinamen. , ' AFTERNOON SITTING. ' William O'Malley, Manager Union Bank of Australia, sworn, said he ask ed CLjow Fong on the 7th of May a* his shop if he knew Yon Yip and h* esaid yes Witness said Lou Yip is dead and he said yes. He then asked him who was the man Le brouught to the Bank when he g"ot the overdraft j He answered Pc Kong. He asked him why he brought Pc Kong and Le said Pc Kong was You- Yip's brother and that half of the 'amount deposited belonged to Pc &oiig at the time it was deposited. He also said that You Yip Lad given Pc Kong- a receipt and the balance of the money before he died. He asked Chow Fong where Pc Kong was, and he said sometimes in Greymouth and sometimes in Reefton. He then asked him to see Pc Kong and get him to call at the Public Trust Office and h< said he would. He saw Chow Fonoagain on the 13th and asked -hirri if he Lad seen Pc Kong and he said he could not find him and told me he had written to the Chinese Consul .in Wellington telling them all aboui the matter, and promising him to try and pa.v tl.'e- money back . Charles Wilkinson Cook, sworn, sair 1 he was the District Agent of tho Pub l'c Trustee. He remembered visitin.'Chow Fong shortly after Novenvbe'iqi*. also in Juoie, J014. ' Chow Fonjr said he 'knew numerous Chinamen. Tl.'e denth of You Yin was not reported to hi™. M R ask^d Cliow T-'ou"---to bring Lou Yip to the Public Trust Office and he (Chow Fong) had no' . done so. ■ ' ■Henry Yon Jackson, S^rr^arv o' tho Ch'^^Sß Cohs'iT ?t WpHinjrtori sworn, said he reside in VMlinirt'" 1 Hft knew th'p accused Chow Fon.cr. H'nd receiver? •^■■ommuniVatinn frnr^ Chaw F^ncr in May, tot?. He nro rhicpd Chow T r o"~V ori' i - : "nl Wtr.*ducfd rhn letter translnted which wn<ro"'l in fViirt From information received he wrote

to You Pc Hong and got no answer. The letter was in the direction of the administration of the estate. The application for bank deposit was produced sig:ned by Lou Yip; also another bank document.. ' Henry Jackson continuing, said both the Chinese cnara'cter letters on tho documents were written, differently. The cheque and receipt were identical, but the original application was different in his opinion, To Mr. Joyce. — There ate different ways of forming the Chinese characters but if a Chinaman is accustomed to write one „ way he is not likeK* to forrni the letters anothev way . To Mr. Joyce. He would not know Lou Yip's signature. ' Detective Thomas Gibson, sworn, said he saw Chow Fd"p- at hi^ sbnat o a.m. on the ? f h Time, 101 s, a*" 4 asked him wherp Pc Hong was -- wanted to «cc h'Ti about "Lo" v;-r-><-money. He said *"* owns h» 1£ *■'**" money Wi.tne.pc <;niri 1 wn^-t to <=pp l.iro Chow Fong said I see Lou Vi™ *■- morrow. At c p.rn.'On the 'same day he arres'^d Chow Foner. Tppd tb" w"fnnt to him and all he (Ch^w Fontr' said wac Id^ nof carp. At •* n *-»' on the s-P-mfc <l pl ' b.° nv-'^'pci T™* *"* Hoi->t nt Chow Fo^o-',; chon \vl"* «— ;J he had been working at the garden At the Police Station* he took out the warrant and asiked him if he understood what it was for and he said get Chow Fong. Chow Fong \va s brouwrb 4 in and he read the warrant. Chow Fong spoke to Pc Hong in Chinese and was answered in Chinese. Chow Fong then said that Pc Hong said he wefnt. to the bank but does not remem ber the day. The Magistrate said as there was no evidence against Pc Hong he would be discharged. Chow Fong was then charged with conspiracy to defraud and pleaded not guilty, and reserved' his defence. He was committed to take his trial at the next sittings of the Supreme Court. Bail was allowed, himself ,£3OO and two sureties of each^ which was forthcoming.