ALLEGED FORGERY.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12935, 15 October 1907, Page 2

ALLEGED FORGERY.

A MAN AND WOMAN WMMTTIEI) FOR TRIAL. At the Ma«istrate'B Court yeeterday, before Sit V. O. Day, John Ireeon (Mr Hunt) and Grace Hutchisoa (.Mr Donnelly) were jointly charged with having forged a promissory note for £24, purporting to be signed by Daniel Hutchison, in favour of t. D. Kesteven. . . . F D. Kesteven, commission agent, gave evidence that Mrs Hutchison called at his office on July 13th, and Mid that she wanted £20. Sho eaid that she ■would give a bill of sale as before. Witnesu said that ho would want her husband's name attached to the document as well, and the replied that that would bo all right. Witness agreed to w»nd tho money to her house, where tho bill of salp was to bo signed. On tho following day the aocueed Ireeon called with a meswag© from Mrs Hutchison, to ask witness to send the money down. Iroson nlso called tho next day with a similar message. Witness took it that tho man was Hutchison, but Ireson never gave that name. To tho best of his belief Ireson was the man who called on him. Witness sent a cheque to Mrs Hutchison's house by his clerk, and in return received the promissory note and bill of sale. To Mr Hunt: Witness had had previous dealings with Mrs Hutchison, but had never seen her husband. To Mr Donnelly: Witness would not swear thnt it was tho 13th of July when Mrs Hutchison called on him; it was tho 13th or 14th. (Tho Magistrate pointed out that the 14th was a Sunday.) Thomas H. Langford, accountant, employed by the previous witness, stated that ho drew up the bill ol sale. While ho was engaged on it Ireson came into tho office and asked witness if ho knew him. Witness asked if he was Hutchison, and Ireson said that he was. Witness gavo him tlie bill of sale, with tho promissory note attached, and Ireson took thorn away. Later, witness took Kestevcn's cheque to Mrs Hutchison's house, and had an interview with her thero. Sho told witness that her husband worked on a late shift on the railway. Ireson came in with tho documents, and she said to him, ,r Hurry up, now, or you will be late for work." Sho signed tho bill of sale and promissory note, and Ireson also signed them as "Daniel Hutchison." Daniel Hutchison, husband of Grace Hutchison, said that Ireson had boarded at his place for some considerable time. Witness denied' that tho signature on tho promissory noto was his, or that it was written with his authority. To Mr Hunt: Witness did not know that his wifo had been borrowing from money-lenders. Mr Donnelly objected to thia witness's evidence being admitted. Duncan McGregor, accountant in the Bank of Now Zealand, gave expert evidence in regard to Ireson's handwriting. Ho considered that thero was a, similarity between the "H" in his signature, as given to the bank, and tho "H" in tho signature on the document, produced. F. B. Hughes, H. E. Boardman, and Detective Gibson also gave evidence. Both accused pleaded not guilty, and reserved their defence. They were committed for trial at the next sitting of the Supremo Court in Christchurch. Mrs Hutchison waa admitted to bail on her own recognisance, and Ireson was required to find ono surety ot £100.