Accidents, Fires, Offences, &c,

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1975, 4 October 1886, Page 2

Accidents, Fires, Offences, &c,

(Per United Press Association ) Auckland, Oct 1. Thom,* IGnt was committed for trial for robbery from the Foresters’ Arms. Mr Henry Jones, veterinary surgeon, Te Aroha, was arrested on a charge of passing a vuilueless cheque. Wellington, Oct I, The charge against William Peate for fraudulently converting a promissory note to his owo use was partly heard in the Magistrate’s Court to-day and adjourned until to morrow. Oct. 1 William Peate was charged at the R.M. Court to-day with fraudently converting to his own use a promissory note. For the defence it was shown that the note was unstamped and therefore not a valuable security, and as a matter of law accused was not a bailee, and fnrther that there was no evidence of conversion. The Magistrate in dismissing the case remarked that the evidence did leave a shaddow of disgraee on the character of accused. Dunedin Oct 2, A four-roomed house at Normauby, insured for L 235 in the South British was totally destroyed by fire. A CLEVER CAPTURE. Christchurch Oct 2. A clever end audacious forgery of a eheque for a large amount has occurred here. On Tuesday evening a boy called at Mosrs Ballantyne and Co’s drapers shop, and said he had been sent by a gentleman who wanted a cheque for L2 7s in exchange for cash, as the post office was closed and he wanted tc seed the amount to a persOD in Wellington, The request was complied with i,nd nothing more thought about the transaction. Yesterday a cheque for L 76 signed by Ballantyne and Co was presented at the National Bink and cashed. On enquiry it was found to be a forgery, and the supposition is that the cheque for L2 7s was obtained for the purpose of copying the eignature of the firm which was remarkably well imitated. The case was placed in the hands of Detective O’Connor who went to work with a great deal of cleverness and astuteness. The result was that this afternoon be arrested a man named Jonathan Roberts, formerly a clerk in the Bank of New Zealand, at Timaru, and afterwards in Christchurch. Subsequently L 64, in National Bank notes, wt re found in a pocket of Roberts’ coat at his lodgings, an 1 a person who was in Roberta’ company when he was arrested gave the police a letter signed by Roberts, and containing a request to bury the coat, and a canvas bag, m which the mooey had been from the bank, in the sandhills. The detective has earned great kudos for his smartness in following up the case and bringing it to a successful I issue to quickly. ]