THE CHARGES OF FORGERY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXIV, Issue 9168, 30 July 1890, Page 3

THE CHARGES OF FORGERY.

The hearing of the charges of forgery and uttering preferred against Fred Marsland Hadfield and Joe Harrop was resumed at the Police Court at 2 p.m. yesterday. Messrs K. Westenra, W. J. Neate and H. Westmacott were the presiding justices. n Mr Franks appeared for Hadfield, and MrMeareafor Harrop. Inspector Pender said that after the expression of the Bench s opinion in the former cases that there was not sufficient evidence with regard to Harrop, as he had no farther evidence to offer he would ask leave to withdraw the two remaining charges against Harrop; Mr Meares asked the Bench to say that Harrop left the Court without a stain on his character. Mr Westenra said the Bench were of opinion that Harrop had acted foolishly. Of course the fact that the cases had been dismissed spoke for itself. The Bench allowed the remaining charges against him to be withdrawn. F. W. Hadfield was then charged with forging the name of "William Goodwin to a cheque for £2B 17s 9d, drawn on the Bank of New South Wales, on April 8 last. Inspector Pender called the following evidence: — Joe Harrop, cabinetmaker; The crossed cheque produced, for £2B 17s 9d, was the one he paid in to the National Bank on April 8. Got it from Hadfield the same day. Did not know the signature “ William Goodwin,” on the cheque. Next morning gave Hadfield his own cheque for the amount. Francis Henry Steele, butcher: Eecognised the cheque produced as written on one of the blank forms he had given to Hadfield. It corresponded with witness’ block produced. William Goodwin: Had an account at the Bank of New South Wales. The signature to the cheque produced was a forgery. Hugh Eobert Eich, ledger-keeper at the National Bank, and Edward Thomas, ledger-keeper at the Bank of New South Wales, gave corroborative evidence. The latter said that Hadfield had presented another cheque for £35 10s, signed “William Goodwin,” at his Bank on July 18, and it was returned, marked “Signature unlike.” Hadfield said he got the cheque from Sheppard, of Tattersail’s Hotel. A. G. Sheppard, licensee of Tattersall’s Hotel.- Never gave Hadfield a cheque signed “ William Goodwin.” Chief-detective O’Connor also gave evidence similar to that on the previous day. Accused Hadfield was committed for trial at next criminal sessions of the Supreme Court. Hadfield was then charged with forging a cheque for £l7 15s on the Bank of New South Wales, purporting to be signed by “William Goodwin,” and uttering it to the Bank of New South Wales, on Jan. 28 last. J. Harrop; Gave Hadfield one or two blank cheques out of the cheque book produced. The cheque produced was one. It was originally on the National Bank, and has been altered to the Bank of New South Wales. Evidence that the cheque was a forgery, and had been cashed over the counter at the Bank, was given by W. Goodwin and E. Thomas, and a committal followed as before. Hadfield was next charged with forging the same name to a cheque for £2O on March 15 last, and uttering it to the Bank of New South Wales. The evidence led was to the effect that the cheque was a forgery, written on a blank form obtained from Mr P. H. Steele, and cashed over the counter at the Bank. There was no evidence who presented it, but the writing and signature were said to be similar to the writing on a cheque presented by Hadfield on July 18. Mr Kippenberger submitted that in this case there was not a tittle of evidence to connect Hadfield with this particular cheque. The Bench decided to commit. A seventh charge (there were three disposed of the previous day) was then preferred against Hadfield, viz., that on April 30 last he forged a cheque for £3l 10s on the Bank of New South Wales, purporting to be signed by William Goodwin, and uttering it to that Bank. The evidence showed that the cheque was written on a blank form obtained from Mr H. G. Sheppard, who had occasionally given blank cheques to Hadfield. The accused was committed for trial on this charge also. - Inspector Pender said that there were three other charges against Hadfield which he would ask the Bench’s permission to withdraw, as there was no evidence to show that any of the cheques had been cashed. The Bench allowed the remaining cases to be withdrawn, and fixed the bail for the first case at —accused in £IOO, and two sureties of £IOO each; and in each of the remaining six cases, accused in £SO and two sureties of £23 each.