ALLEGED FORGERY.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 243, 15 October 1886, Page 2

ALLEGED FORGERY.

Serious Charges Against a Commission Agoat.

John Livesky, a young nion who was recently c«rrjin(j on bu-inofs ns a oommia gion a K ont iv Auckland, was charged at lh> Police Court today, before Mr 11. G. Scth Smith, Ko-id nl M i^'Htiato, with tlio for-f-'cry of cheques on tho Bank of ftoiv Zealand amounting in tha aggregate to about ti;r>o, with iniont to defraud ono Frank ",'illium Fol.y. Tho cliaigo of for^iny a Cheque for iX'OO on July 13 was tnkun lirst.

tfur;;eatit I'ratt conducted tin- [in seeution and Mr K. Karl nppeured fur the accuse i.

Frank Win. Foluy, of JJovonport, drposcrl that ho had known tho prieonor about a yunr, Ho had paid him two or three small amounts of monuy by chequo. That wag thru), four, or live months ago, buthocould not swear which. Prisoner had an opportunity of becoming acquainted wilh hia signatmo. Witness kept an account at tho Bank of Now Zealand, and did not know any other Frank William Foloy in Auckland. There woro plonty othor Foloy| but no Frank William. Tho signature to tho choqii'- (produced) was not his. Tho chequo was da!od July 13, was on the Bauk of New Zealand, in favour of John Livecsy, and was aignod Frank W. Foloy. Most decidedly tho eignaturo was not hip. Tho prisoner had certainly no aulhoiity to s-ign hia chequo*. Ho had no notice of tho cheque King presented till his cheques were dishonoured, and ho was informed that hia account was overdrawn. Then ho wan tod to know what wa* up. His pass book was musing, and while ho thought ho had loft it nt tho bank, tho ollicmU there woro cortain ho had not.

Sergeant Pratt put in two provious cheques, dated May and June, to provo guilty knowledge. Tho witness paid they boio tie signature Frank W. Foley, but tho handwriting was not hiej and was but a bare imitation of his signature.

Charles Baker, clerk to Mr Il'. (*. Ewington, Coombee'a Arcade, deposed that ho know the prisoner, who called at thoir oilico eotno time in Juno lust, and askod for two blank cheque forms. Witness supplied them from Mr Kwiti^ton's book, and new recognised those produced aft the name. He producod tho blook from which they were taken. Accused did not fay what he roquired the cheques lor. Thc-re woro not tho only cheques that accused obtained from him.

Robert Hog wood, clerk in tho Bank of Zealand, did not know the prisoner, and had never seen him before that ho was awaro of. Tho cheque (produced) for £200 hud boon parsed through their bank on tho loth of July. It was receivod by their bank from tho Bank of Now South Wales, to which it was originally paid, judging from tho stamp upon it. The cheque was doti'.ed to Frank William Foley'a oi-count at the bank.

S. N. You Slurmor, clerk in tho Bank of Now South Wales, know that the accused had an account at their bank. It was opened on tho 17th May last. He remembered the .chequo (produced) being presented to the bank on July 14 by J. Livcfoy. Tho chequo waa sent down to tho Bank of Now Zealand, where it was paid. The amount vta? plac d to tho prisoner's credit at tho .Bank of New South Wales. Tho amount had sinco been drawn upon by tho prisoner. The other cheques (produced) woro presented at their bank, and tho amounts placed to the credit of MrLivesev.

By Mr E*rl : Ho would pny a cheque on either signature, notwithstanding tho difforenoo iv the " yd."

Patrick Herbert,' acting-detcctivo, deposod that he arrested tho prisonor about 11 p.m. on tho 7th ir.st. He read tho wairant, and Livesey caid ho did not want to give any trouble, and would admit the charge. Witness took him to his lodgings at tho Thames Hotel next morning, and searched his efleo's. While thero, ho admitted to Mr S Jackson, solicitor, that he hud forged the cheque for £200, and threo others. Ho said his mind was at re*-t now aftor admitting it all. atid the eoonor it waa over the bettor Tho pjidoner was committed for trial on each of four eeperate chargeß.