FORGERY CHARGE

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25970, 25 November 1949, Page 8

FORGERY CHARGE

MAN COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE

In the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, William John McKean, aged 28, a boot machinist, pleaded guilty to a charge that, on August 15, he falsely signed the name Mary Kirk to a Social Security Department postal warrant, thereby committing forgery. Mr Raymond Ferner, S.M., committed McKean to the Supreme Court for sentence. Detective-Sergeant A. B. Tate prosecuted. McKean was not represented by counsel. Mary Kirk, a.married woman, said she was on sickness benefit. Her first benefit payment of £4 10s was due about the middle of August. It did not arrive, and she made inquiries at the Social Security Department. She was later shown a warrant signed in her name, but the signature was not hers. She did not receive or cash Wilfred JoHh Robbins, a milkman, said he knew the accused as a customer. The accused asked him to cash • social security warrant, and witness asked if it was all right. He was assured by the accused that it was. The warrant had a signature at that time. He gave accused £4 10s for it, and later cashed it at the Social Security Department office. Edward Bainfleld Pyne, an inspector, Social Security Department, said he interviewed the accused, who admitted negotiating the warrant. The accused told witness he received the warrant through the mail. There was a chance that he did receive it by mail.

Detective-Sergeant Tate said he interviewed McKean on November 11, and McKean admitted signing the name Mary Kirk on the warrant, with the object of obtaining the money. McKean made a statement, in which he said he had been receiving a sickness benefit of £4 10s after having chopped off the top of his index finger at home, for which he got no compensation. He received his own warrant for £4 10s in August, and then received another warrant through the mail. This one was in the name of Mary Kirk, and was pinned to a medical certificate in his. McKean’s, name. He had no money in the house for his’ wife and child, and he decided to cash this warrant.