CHARGED WITH FORGERY.

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 1906, 24 October 1912, Page 2

CHARGED WITH FORGERY.

FREDERICK NOFFKE BEFORE THE COURT.

Frederick Noffke, of Halcombe, appeared before Mr A. D. Thomson, S.M., at the Court this morning, to answer a charge of having forged a Fourth Standard certificate in order to obtain permanent employment on the railways. Mr Graham appeared for accused. Samuel Strachan stated Noffke was a pupil of his at the Halcombe school some years ago. On the certificate produced the signature for Standards 11. and 111. was his own; but for Standard IV. his name was on the document, but it was not his writing and it was impossible, he thought, for him to have handed the certificate in its present form. It would be possible for some one to wrongfully fill in the certificate and leave it on his desk, and then for Noffke to lift it. The certificate becomfcs the property of the pupil on passing Standard 1., and as he passes each succeeding standard he may brinf the certificate back and have it j filled in. Numbers of children fail to take their certificates to be filled in. Noffke was in the Fourth Standard. To Mr Graham: Witness could not say whother or not the accused had passed the Fourth Standard. If a ! nupil had passed the Fourth Stan- | dard. ho could, oven after years, ap- | v>l v to the Education Board and get the certificate. Ho remembered teaching Noffke, and had he been asked ten years ago, he would have given a. testimonial of character. So far as lie could remember, Noffke was a fair writer. The examination in 1902 was held on June 3. To tho Magistrate: If a pupil passed, he was informed, as the whole school were notified.. If it was proved that Noffke was in the Fifth Standard, lie would swear lie must have passed the Fourth. Frederick Campbell Fraser, cleric in charge of the Employment Department of the Railways, efcated he had received an application (produced). He found the file unsatisfactory so far as the education certificate was concerned, the signature for the Fourth Standard appearing to be at j variance with those for the other standards. He reported the matter to thepolice. After comparing Noffke' s eignature with the ■writing on the certificate, he was of opinion that tlie same man wrote both. To Mr Graham: Witness could not say whether the forged signature was written recently or some time ago. I For the position applied for by Noffke, it was necessary to have a Third Standard certificate. A previous application was received from accused by tho Department, on August 22, ! 1908. ■■ ■ . i The lunch adjournment then took place. *