CITY POLICE COURT.

Evening Star, Issue 8614, 7 September 1891, Page 1

CITY POLICE COURT.

Saturday, EfirmißEß 5. (Before Messrs C. Hajr.es and C. Allan, Justices.) Dbcnkenness Elizabeth Johnston, who had not appealed previously for six months, was fined ss, la default twenty-four hours' imprisonment ; William Roach (twenty-cine previous convictions for drunkenness and beggirg) was fined 403, cr seven d*ys' imprisonment, a severe caution being administered. A Vehicle Wi'holt ligbts. John O'Lcary admitted havirg driven a vehicle through Kensiegton after sunset without proper side lights, and was fined ss, without costs, it bait g his first offence. Unbegistebed Dgg.s.- Margaret Anderson was fined 5i and costs, and Sarah Shcran 2s 6d, without costs. The Cut Hall— Donald C. Cameron was charged with that, being the owr.er of the City BaH, he unlawfully allowed it to be used for a performance by the Old Kentucky Minstrels without a license being obtained fur perfoimances in the halL—lnspector Sim asked to be allowed to withdraw the charge, the license fee having been paid —Application granted. FotG ■ uy. - Margaret Bowie, charged with forging a cheque on the Colonial Bank for LC, and uttering the same, was defended by Mr M'£eay. Chief-detective Henderson said that accused was employed as a domestic servant by Mr Alex. Thomson at Maungatui. On Saturday evening last she went to Johnson, iun., ana carp nter's snop in Battray street and bought some articles, for payment of which ehe tendered a cheque for LB on the Colonial Bank, signed "Robert Charters,"and drawn in favor of Jane Wallace. Ehe said that was her name, and that the was staying at Mr Ohartera's. It was subsequently discovered that the b'ank cheque had been Btolenout of Mr Thomsou's cheque book. Accused had opportunity of knowing Mr Charters and his name, having been brought up within two miles of his house. Yesterday morning Detective M'Grath went to Maungatua and identified accused, atd on making eearch he found not all but eoine of the articles that accused purchased. Mr Thomson, her employer, would say that she started for Dunedin last Saturday; and a point in the case was that the cheq e was made out in two kinds of ink—the b-><3y in black and the signature In violet—and inks of these kinds were found-in accused's room.—Charles James Johnston, carrying on business in Rattray Etreet, i aid that last Saturday night accused called at his shop atd bought a black skirt, a P3ir cf kid gloves, two pairs of stockings, a remnant of dress material, and some linicg, coining to 30j 10J. She paid by cheque on the Colonial Bank at JJunedin, dated Mosgiel, ihe 29tb. The cheque was for LO, the signature be'ng 'Kob.-rt Charters. 1 ' She endorsed the cheque "Ja-e Wallace," and said that she was ttayirg with Mr Charters, at Mosgiel. Witness accepted the cheque and gave her the balance in cash. He presented tbech'que at the bank on Wondsy, and the autwer was "No account." Found that the cheque was a bid one, atd repnted the matter to the detf ct vc. Had teen in ascused's rocm articles similar to those which accused bought, also bottles cf ink like that used in filling up the cheqm The cheque produced was tte sama. 'loMrM'Kcay: Was quite positive as to the identity of accused Did not notice at the time cf receiving it that the cheque was diced from Mosgiel, atd that it was dated sirop'y "29th," cot specifjirg the month. — liobert Charters, farmer, at xast Taieri, said that hia account was kept at the National Bank at Mcsgiel. The writkg on the cheque produced was not his—nothiig Jike it. He did not know accused.—Aubrey If. Gualter, ledgerkeeper at the Colonial Bank, said that the cheque produced was presented last Monday, and returned endorsed "No account." The signature to the cheque and the signature '' Margaret Dowie " to the accused's property sheet were very similar. To Mr M'Keay .- Witnest would not cash a cheque like the ono produced, even if the signature was a genuine one, without reference to the manager. Alexander Thomson, farmer of Maungatua, paid th»t accused had been is his employ for about Eixteen months. He recognised the cheque book produced. To Mr M'Keay: The accused had been a trustworthy, honest girl, and he cauld give her a good charac ■ ter in every way.—Detective M'orath sa'd that he arrested accused yesterday at Mr Thornton's house, Mr Johnson went wnh him, and Identified accused. She signed the property-sheet produced at the watchhouse.—This was the case for the prosecution.—Mr M'Keay said that he could call a large number of witnesses if necessary to prove that the character of this young lady had hitherto been unimpeachable; but this was not the time nor the place to do so. He admitted that there did appear to be a prima facie case sgaiost accused, and that being so it would be useless to call witnesses. He would reseive his defence. —Accused was then committed fcr trial, bail being allowed—two sureties in L 25 each and accused In L 25. —On Mr M Eeay's application the Bench consented to accept Mr Thomson as surety for LSO instead of Insisting on two sureties, it being stated that Mr and Mrs Thomson would receive accused back to their heme.