COMMITTED FOR TRIAL

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 58, 10 March 1927, Page 8

COMMITTED FOR TRIAL

alleged theft or cheque. YOUNG MAX DENIES GUILT. Frank Lewis Johnson, a young mar., for whom Mr. A- J. Moody appeared at tbe Police Court to-day, pleaded not guiltv when charged with stealing a cheque for £12. on July 14. 1926. and forging the name of John James Smith to 'the 0 endorsement of the document. The evidence showed that Smith gave a letter containing the cheque to accused to post to Mr?. Emma Smith, of Newton. •Smith said that he asked accused to register it. although he did not give him any money to do so. Accused said that he would and later told Smith that he had posted it as an ordinary letter. The letter did not j reach its destination and later the cheque was cashed at the Farmers Union Trading Company, by a man who purchased clothinp valued at £1 19/6 receiving tbe change out of the cheque for £12. The salesman concerned said that he codld identify accused as the man who presented the cheque. Constable Jackson, of Morrinsville. who interviewed Johnson, produced a statement made by accused, in which he denied jroing to the Farmers Lnion Trading Company. Two handwriting experts both expressed the opinion that the endorsement on the cheque and the handwriting of accused were identical. The presiding justices. Messrs. A. J. Stratford and Donaldson, sent accnsed to the Supreme Court for triaL