FORGERY CHARGE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 147, 23 June 1937, Page 13

FORGERY CHARGE

THEFT OF MONEY

MAN PLEADS GUILTY

Pleading guilty before Mr. W. F. Stilwell, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court today to the theft of £6 5s in money, and to making out a false receipt for £8 ss, purporting to be signed by F. J; W. Fear and Company, thereby committing forgery, Victor John' Peddie, a motor driver, aged 29, .was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Detective-Sergeant P. Doyle conducted the prosecution.. Mr. A. J. Mazengarb appeared for the accused. Mary Louisa Belair Ward, widow, of Argyle Street,. Wellington, said that at the time .of the offence she was conducting a boarding-house .in Abel Smith Street. The accused was boarding with her. On March-11 she withdrew £8 from the Post Office Savings Bank, and on the following day asked the accused.to go to Messrs. Fear and Co. to collect a new bicycle selected by her son. He was given £8 10s to pay for it, and returned with- the cycle in his possession. He handed her ss, and a receipt for £8 5s stamped and dated that day, and purporting, to be from the firm in payment of the cycle. On June .15 she learned that the receipt was not genuine, and that ,£6 ss. was still owing on the machine. She, saw the accused on the following day and questioned him in regard to the receipt. He said, "Well, , mum, women again," and agreed to pay it back in instalments of £1 a week. Archibald Thomas Maylett, partner in the firm of F. J. W. Fear and Co., cycle dealers, said that on March 12 the accused came into his shop and purchased a cycle under the name of F. Ward. He said he was not in a position to pay the full amount of the bicycle. The cost of the cycle was £8 ss. cash or £9 5s on terms. The accused asked to pay a deposit'and the rest, by weekly instalments, -and this was agreed to. The accused paid the deposit and was* given a receipt for £2. He signed a hire-purchase agreement in the name of F. Ward. A later communication from the accused said that he was not then able to pay the 3s 6d per week required, and asked for an extension. A letter was sent agreeing to this request. No reply was received to this or. to a letter written on June 8. Witness examined the receipt produced, and stated that it was not issued by his firm, but was a forgery. 'Detective R. Tripney said that he interviewed the accused in company with Detective-Sergeant W. Kane, The accused made a statement admitting both charges." Witness1 said that after his arrest the accused stated that he was not prepared to refund the money out of his compensation money 'received for an injury sustained while working.' He was on sustenance until quite recently. " ' " : ■ Detective-Sergeant W. Kane corroborated the evidence of. the previous witness. The accused pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for Sentence. v '