FORGERY AND THEFT

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXV, Issue 3278, 12 March 1931, Page 5

FORGERY AND THEFT

CHARGES AGAINST 'YOUNG WOMAN. COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE. Nancy Kitching, a young . woman who was admitted to probation several weeks ago for false pretences at Te Kuiti, appeared in Court this morning in answer to a charge of forgery and uttering a cheque in the name of R. S. C. Thompson to the amount of £6 10s to W. S. Blyth Harper, chemist, Te Kuiti, and that on or about August 1, 1930, did steal one diamond ring valued at £ls and one pair of stockings, the property of Albert Dobson, draper of Te Kuiti. Messrs. J. F. Walsh and R. Mostyn Jones were on the Bench. Sergeant Fearnley conducted the case for the police. Evidence in respect of the first charge was given by Robert Thompson, farm manager, of Aramati, who said the accused had been employed by witness as a domestic servant. She left witness’ employ on February 26, 1931, and before leaving was paid her wages. After being informed by the police later that there were several of witness’ cheques in circulation in the town, witness discovered that four cheques were missing from his book, and one of these had been cashed by Blyth Harper, chemist. This cheque had been forged. P. H. Passau, manager of the Bank of New Zealand at Te Kuiti, gave evidence as to the paying in of the cheque and its being returned with “signature unlike.” D. H. Harper gave evidence as to the cashing of the cheque for accused. Both the latter and Mr. Thompson had done business with witness before.

Sergeant Fearnley said that on February 28 he obtained a warrant for the arrest of the accused on a charge of forging and uttering, and later she was an-ested at New Plymouth and brought to Te Kuiti under escort. On March 5 accused made a statement admitting the offences. In respect to the latter charge, accused, in her statement, said that she had taken the ring and the other articles referred to whilst in the employ of Mrs. A. Dobson. Evidence in respect of the second offence was given by Albert Dobson, draper, who stated that the accused was formerly employed by witness up till August last. Some time after accused left witness’ employ a ring was missed. The ring had been put away and not worn for some time, and therefore not missed for a while after accused left.

After the taking of evidence accused, who was not represented by counsel, pleaded guilty to both charges and was committed to the Supreme Court at Auckland for sentence.