CHARGE NOT JUSTIFIED.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15751, 18 November 1916, Page 5

CHARGE NOT JUSTIFIED.

VALUED OFFICIAL ACCUSED. JUDGE EXPRESSES SURPRISE. 'A charge of forging a receipt was preferred against Andrew McGill, who appeared in tho Supreme Court at Auckland on Tuesday, before liis Honour Mr Justice Stringer. In returning a true bill in the case, tho grand jury had declared itself satisfied that the accused had. had no intent to defraud. Mr J. R. Reed, K.C., who appeared for the accused, stated that the latter had been advised" to plead guilty, as the Court of Appeal had decided that intent to defraud was not now necessary to constitute an offence of forgery. The accused was chief inspector to the East Coast Rabbit Board, in which capacity ho had to make payments to a number of subordinates. Ori one occasion ho had to co away in a hurry, on account of tho drowning of one of his men, and left his receipt-book behind. He could not obtain a receipt on the usual form for a payment ho made subsequently, and upon returning he found that to obtain a proper receipt from the payee, who was in the Urewera Country, he would have to wait for three weeks. He therefore put the payee's name to a receipt. Mr Keod said a memorial had been received from the Rabbit Board stating that McGill was a valued and efficient officer. He was entirely trustworthy, and a sum of £6000 passed through his hands every year. The Board was completely satisfied that there had been no intention on the part of McGill to defraud. It would bo a calamity if he were prevented from returning to his duties. His xlonour said it was a case of technical forgery, and he was surprised that it had come before the Court. He ordered McGill to come up for sentence when called upon. "Which means," he added, "that you won't bo called on." Mr Tole suggested that there were still the costs of the prosecution to be 1 considered. His Honour: No, I certainly don't intend to make him pay the costs. Mr Tole: Tho prosecution was ordered by the Commissioner of Taxes. His Honour: Very well, then, the Government will have to pay the costs.