ALLEGED FORGERY AND THEFT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVI, Issue 14416, 5 July 1907, Page 5

ALLEGED FORGERY AND THEFT.

FOUR YOUTHS BEFORE THE COURT. On Wednesday, Detective Fitzgerald of Timaru, arrested a youth named Cecil James Wates, near As'hburton, on three charges of having forpd and uttered cheques. .The detective conveyed him to Cliristchurch and obtained from him statements that led to the arrest of two other youths named Harry and Thomas Cox, brokers. The former was charged with having been implicated in the forgeries and the latter with having been with Wates in the theft of a portmanteau. Uie information given by Wates led to further inquiries and the arrest of John Downie Stewart by Detectives; litagerald and Bishop, shortly before U o'clock on Wednesday night. The prisoners were brought before Mr V. G, Day, S.M., yesterday at the Magistrate's Court, and Vates. Stewart and Harry Cox were charged with having, between April 20 and 22, forged three cheques on the Bank of New Zealand, Timaru, purporting them to have been signed by R. G. Tate, and having uttered the first for £6 2s 6d to Ellen Cockayne, the second for £5 12s, to Benjamin Perry, and the third for £7 los to Edmund Power. The three were remanded to Tuesday on the application of the police. Stewart and Harry Cox were then removed, and Wate* and Thomas Coxwere charged with having stolon at Timaru, a portmanteau and contents valued at £S, tho property of Robert Coulter. They were also remanded to Tuesday, tho Magistrate ordering that the four youths should be kept separate from the other prisoners.