ALLEGED FORGERS

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 112, 13 May 1902, Page 5

ALLEGED FORGERS

At the S.M. Court this morning- a young man named Edward Thomas Natal Joseph Kelly was charged with committing forgery by altering the amount of a cheque drawn by A. J. Whiteside. on the Union Bank of Australia, Auckland, from £1 6/6 to £21 0/6, and with uttering the same. Chief-Detective Grace prosecuted, and Mr Martin appeared for the defence A. J. Whiteside, flaxmiller, residing in the Waikato, deposed that he paid off accused on April 82 with a cheque for £1 0/6 on the Union Bank. A little later he received his pass-book from the bank, and this showed that £21 6/6 had been taken from his account. The cheque produced had been altered from £1 6/6 to £21 6/6. Accused subsequently confessed to him that he had altered the cheque under the influence of liquor.

Alfred Skeates deposed that on April 22 last a man bought some jewellery, and in payment tendered a cheque for £21 6/6, and witness gave a cheque for £14 19/ as change. He could not say whether accused was the parson.

William Henry Newbold, cashier in the Union Bank of Australia, stated that he cashed a cheque for 6/> on the 4th April, the day following a Bank holiday, and as he was very lmsy~~he did not notice any peeuliariiy. tiiotigh he could now see difference of handwriting.

Detective Maddern era-"* evidence ns to arresting accused, and charging him with the offence.

Accused pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.