ALLEGED FORGERY AND THEFT

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 180, 24 April 1924, Page 7

ALLEGED FORGERY AND THEFT

BANK CLERK IN COURT Arising out of tho discovery of discrepancies in the funds of the Te Aro branch of the National Bank of Now Zealand, the head bills clerk, Reginald Hoggard was called upon before Mr. O. R. Orr-Walker, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, to answer two charges of forgery and theft as a servant. The informations related to amounts of £ll7 17s. and £6l 10s. respectively. Chief-Detective Kemp prosecuted and Mr. W. Perry appeared for accused. Chief-Detective Kemp stated that at the time the offences were alleged to have been committed accused was employed at the Te Aro branch of the National Bank. Dealing with the first charge, he said that it was alleged that' on December 18, 1923, accused received a remitting warrant, and on tho same date prepared a credit slip for tho amount stated in it. £ll7 17sThe proceeds were, it was alleged, credited to an account styled “I. Banks,” and the following day a cheque for that amount, made out in accused’s handwriting and initialled by him for cash, and signed “I. Banks,” withdrew the money from the account. Evidence of a technical character was called. Detective Nuttall described an interview with accused at the Rona Bay Police Station on March 31 last. Hoggard admitted that the slip and cheque were in his handwriting, but denied the signature. Informed that the initials “J. R.” were not those of the second bills clerk, he made no reply, and said that ho “knew nothing about it” when asked where he obtained £ll7 17s. to pay to the credit of Banks’s account, and for an explanation regarding the withdrawal cheque. “1 know nothing about it” was tiie answer to a question concerning the identity of “I. Banks,” and his place of residence. Corroborative evidence was given by Detective Sinclair. Similar evidence was heard in connection with the remaining count, and at, the conclusion accused entered a plea of not guilty in each case, reserved his defence, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail (£200) was renewed, the accused, in addition, being directed tn report to the police daily-