TEXAS FORGERY CASE

Evening Star, Issue 20320, 31 October 1929, Page 3

TEXAS FORGERY CASE

GREY COMMITTED FOR EXTRADITION ITer United Press Association.! AUCKLAND, October 30. An order for the committal to prison for extradition of John Grey, alleged to bo A. B. Crouch, the perpetrator of a forgery involving £50,000 in Texas, was made by Mr Hunt, S.M., this afternoon. Mr Meredith (Crown Solicitor) said that after tho offence was committed Crouch absconded, and in November, 1916, a true bill was brought in by the grand jury in Texas. Certain photographs of A. B. Crouch had been identified by the bank president at Temple. Accused was undoubtedly the man in the photographs. One set of depositions was from the manager of the ban k concerned, and another from Crouch’s stenographer, a woman named Ogle. The bank manager spoke of the forgery of drafts covering consignments of oats which did not exist, and said the bank paid out on them. A letter written by Crouch to his brother was found, and in it Crouch admitted that he had “a world of forged drafts and bills of lading out,” and said he was going away to New Orleans to commit suicide. Mrs Ogle said she had forged a number of drafts and railway bills of lading with the connivance and nn/rler the orders of Crouch. Ogle said she had more than once told Cropeh she was “ going to quit it,” but Crouch begged her to stay “ and see them through.” Detective-sergeant Doyle said that in th description of Crouch sent from America a birthmark under the left knee was mentioned. Witness saw the birthmark when accused was dressing at Helensviile after arrest. Sheriff Bigham, of Bell County,’ Texas, said he knew A. B. Crouch—that was tho accused, Grey. He knew him for twenty-five years in the same county, where both were raised. Accused was in the grain in Temple. Witness had business dealings with Crouch years ago. Witness held, under the signature of the President of the United States, an authority to take accused back to Texas.

Questioned by Air Finlay, who appeared for Grey, witness said the stenographer. Airs Ogle, was also indicted, but was not tried. Crouch’s brother, Carey Crouch, was tried in 1917 and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment. Sheaves of documents relating to the extradition and depositions wore handed in.

Mr Finlay said there was hist one point he wished to raise. What was tho exact charge against Crouch in respect to tho bill of lading. Mrs Ogle bad stated in her affidavit that she could not remember whether Crouch was present when she drew the bill. Tho Magistrate said Crouch had been indicted not only for committing forgery, hut also for counselling it. Mr Finlay said it was questionable whether counselling forgery was an indictable offence included in the Extradition Act.

“ I consider that a prima facie case has been made,” said tbp magistrate. “ Therefore if accused does not wish to give evidence, I am going to commit him to prison for extradition, with tbn provision that he cannot be removed from the country for fifteen days, so that he can obtain a habeas corpus from tho Supremo Court if he wants to.”

Mr Finlay protested, saying he was faced with a large number of facts to absorb, and a difficult case to prepare, while there would bo very little time at bis disposal. The Magistrate said counsel could take it as an official notification that accused would not bo surrendered within fifteen days.