SERIES OF FORGERIES

Evening Star, Issue 19855, 2 May 1928, Page 3

SERIES OF FORGERIES

COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE OFFENCES AT PALMERSTON A series of forgeries at Palmcrslon South led to the appearance at the Police Court this morning n£ Thomas Edward Preston (Mr C. .1. While), who was faced with eight charges. The charges against Preston were (all tho offences being committed at Palmerston South) :—March 22, forged Cl. L. Craig’s name to a cheque for £3, knowing it to be falser, and with tho intention that William M'Gill Crockett should act upon it .as if it were genuine; March 24, forged (1. L. Craig’s name to cheque for .£9 10s .‘ld, knowing it to he false, and with intention that William M'Gill Crockett should net upon it as ii it wero genuine; March 28, forged name of G. L. Craig to a cheque for £lO JOs 6d with tho intention I liar James .Lang should art. upon it as if it were genuine; March 22. forged the name of (I. L. Craig to a cheque for £lO 10s Gd with the intention that Francis William Robertson should act upon it as it it were genuine; March 31, forged G, L. Craig’s name to a cheque for £IP with tho intention that Charles I 1 rederiek Smith .should net upon it as if it were genuine; March 28. forged G. L. Craig’s name to cheque for £5 with the intention that James Lang should art upon it as if it were genuine; April 2, forged G. L. Craig’s name to a cheque for £f) 13s with the intention that William M'Gill Crockett should net upon it as if it were genuine; March 21. forged G. L. Craig’s name to a cheque for £8 10s 3d~ with the intention that John Fraser Stent should ant, upon it ns if it were genuine. Win. M'Gill Crockett, draper, of Palmerston, said lie knew the accused, who had been a cash customer at his shop. He recognised two cheques tendered him by aceusd for goods supplied. He knew Preston was employed by Craig. On one cheque he returned as change some cash. He thought the cheques were Craig’s. Charles I 1 ’rederiek Smith, garage proprietor at Palmerston, said Preston had engaged car from him. tor which he tendered a cheque for £lO. and witness returned him the change in cash.

James Lang, storekeeper of Palmerston, said Preston made purchases from him, for which fie tendered two cheques. On each occasion he was given change hi cash. Witness knew Preston was in Craig’s employ, and he believed the cheques to have been drawn by Craig. John Eraser Stent, watchmaker and jeweller of Palmerston, suid accused made a purchase at his ..hop, amj tendered a cheque in payment. He. gave Preston change in cash, and beneved the cheque was Craig’s. George Lindsay Craig, farmer at Gleupark, near Palmerston, said Preston was in his employ in February and March of this year. On one occasion he was sent a message to Palmerston, and was told to call at the bank to get a cheque book for him. He did not authorise him to get the second cheauo book produced. None of the cheques produced in court were drawn by him. He had never had that cheque book in his .possession. Constable Young, of Port Chalmers, said that while he was on relieving tlutv he' arrested the accused on April when he made a signed statement to the effect that he was w farm labourer on probation for theft at Portobello, and that be had been employed by Mr Craig at Palmerston South.. On one occasion his employer had asked him to call at the bank for a cheque book, and he had given the .accused a cheque for

T. sin part payment of his wages. The other cheques ho had received were forged by tho witness. On another occasion he had gone to the bank asking for a cheque book for Dir Craig which accused had signed for in his own name. Afterwards ho had issued cheques for different people around Palmerston, and made them payable to himself. All the money ho received had been spent in buying clothes and presents. Witness had recovered the cheques at the bank and tho cheque hook (produced) under tho accused’s hod. Detective Jeuvcy also gave evidence. The accused pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.