SPLIT BANK NOTES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLV, Issue 10168, 24 July 1924, Page 5

SPLIT BANK NOTES

OSHOULATSO LOCALLY.

YOUNG MAN CHARGED.

COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. Further developments in connection with the split bank note trouble in Ashburton were enacted in the Magistrate’s Court this morning before Messrs R. Galbraith and YV. W. White, J.P’s.

David Goodsir, alias David Green, 24 years of age, was charged that, on June 26, he was without lawful authority or excuse in possession of a forged banknote, knowing it to be forged. Accused pleaded not guilty. He was represented by Mr M. J. Burns, Detective Bickerdike, who conducted the case for the police, said that on June 26 the accused presented to Mr C. C. Judge a split £1 note. Upon Mr J udge noting it to be split, accused said he would pass it off next morning at the shop where he was employed. On June 26 Mr R. Totfy found a split iOs note in his takings. Accused had gone into the shop that day and presented a 10s note. Accused answered to the description given by the receiver of the note.

Charles Judge, fruiterer, said accused had entered his shop on tile evening of June 26, and had asked for Is. worth of apples. Witness, while getting the fruit, noticed that defendant laid the note on the counter with the back part uppermost, perfectly fiat. Witness did not take much notice of this at the time. Before picking up the note, witness remarked it was a very thin one to which the accused replied “Yes, it is.” After witness had told accused that the note was split, he compared it with another. Only the back of the note was there, Recused said he had received the note at business that afternoon. Witness remarked that in that case the firm, and not the accused, would be responsible. Accused took the note, saying lie would put it in among the change at Barrett’s next morning and say nothing about it. The note produced was the one handed to witness by accused on June 26. Ho took it for granted that the accused knew the note was split. Constable M. O’Grady said that from information received he had interviewed the accused at Barrett’s shop on the morning of June 27. Witness asked where was the split note accused had attempted to pass to Mr Judge the night before. Accused replied that it was at the boardinghouse. Accused said he did not know where he had received it, though he thought he might have got it a fortnight ago while in Christchurch, at the races, the hank, or from Mr A. Todd, who paid him his wages. He said there were many ways in which he might have received it. He had been in possession of it about three weeks. Witness interviewed accused again at 1 P-™- 011 the same day at the shop. W itness went along with accused to the coaming house to inspect other bank notes. Accused asked witness to wait outside while he got the' notes, but upon witness objecting to this accused went to the lavatory and flushed the basin. In tlie bedroom accused produced a roll of notes from his pocket, Lheie were six £1 and four 10s. notes, all practically new. To witness s query as to why he had not been shown these notes at the shop, accused said he supposed he could please himself about that. From a drawer in the room accused produced the split note in question, and said he had taken it from tlie top of his roll of notes to buy the apples? Witness remarked that surely accused had noticed it was split but accused said he had not. Accused admitted having cashed two £o notes at Barrett’s the day previous and knew that Mr Todd had noticed a split note q monff them. Accused said he had 3 none on Mr Todd. All notes to

be produced in this case were in circulation in Ashburton witlr the exception | of one found in Christchurch on July 18 This was produced. It had been found in Messrs Armstrongs draper} shop It was the half corresponding with the half of the note found on ac- i cused. Mr Hunter accountant atthe - Bank of New Zealand, Ashhmton, had examined the notes. On the chu J , witness interviewed linn, accused u... dressed in a blue suit .and v.eaimg .. hi l!label°B U Horrell 3 cashier employed at Barrett’s, said that on June - Sciised had come to. the office and aslccd for a £5 note in exchange for j five single ones. Witness effected the pvoliansre she counting the notes but I not examining them. On the following morning she had found among the past da““ takings a split £1 g she gave to the manager, All She could not have received the note from any person other than an e - plovee, and there was no . doubt that it was put in on the previous day. Mr Burns said it was stretching a point for the police to brand accused with every split bank note m Ashhuiton The fact that Barrett’s had received a split- note was an extraneous fact and out of connection with the charge He would like his objection

In reply to Mr Burns, witness saic. all the money came to her desk in cups from the employees. ~ Archibald H. Todd, manage of Rm-retts, Ltd., said that on June the previous witness had handed him a split £1 note. He interviewed the staff, including the accused, who said h°, had one of those, and had either handed it to the police or had informed them. Accused was in his employ f nearly four months, and left on Jul} 8, going to Christchurch. Robert Totty, chemist, said that between 1 and 2 p.m. on June 26 Ik found a split 10s note m the cash register.. Shortly after 1 P.m. a young man had come into the shop fmsom cough mixture, and tendered a 10s note in payment. The customer was dressed in a blue suit, and wore a light grey hat. He was very much like accused.

James Hunter, accountant at tne ] Bank of Now Zealand. Ashburton, testified to the notes (produced) having been. split. The half-note found on accused and the one which had circulated in Christchurch coincided exactly as halves. Witness had been in the bank’s employ for over 12 years, and had a wide knowledge of the work. Senior-Sergeant I>. Jackson gave evidence of having gone to Barrett s I shop on the morning of June M. lu ! reply to his question accused said no had taken a split hank note to Mr ; Judge’s shop. He (accused) had said i he did not know where he had obtained I the note, but was willing to let the police have it after dinner. Accused had said nothing about- the note until

approached regarding it. On June 1 a split note (produced) was handed to witness by Mr W. Gourdie, of Ashlames Bickerdike, detective, stationed at Cliristcluirclt. said the accused on warrant at tmn church. When the warrant was road to him accused said: “ lue nonce ai > a lot of curs and wasters ! A pica ol' not gmU-y having hoen entered and defence reserved bailU as asked for and granted, self in i-AJU. two sureties of £IOO each, or one- o £2OO Accused was committed for trial to |i,„ Qpnrome Court, which will sit at Christchurch on August IS.