MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 234, 31 August 1940, Page 3

MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. In the Magistrate’s Court yesterday . William Wallace Clifford, labourer, of i Napier, appeared on two charges of alleged false pretences. Mr H. P. Lawry, S.M., was on the Bench. Mr 5 A. M. Ongley appeared for accused and Detective-Sergeant A. B. Meiklejohn tor the police. Accused was charged that, on May IS at Palmerston Norm, with intent to defraud, he obtained £lo by representing mat a cheque for that amount, drawn on the

Commercial Bank of Australia, Ltd., in favour of 11. Nicol and signed A. Matthews, was a good and .valid order; and also that ho obtained £l2 10s by falsely representing that a cheque tor that sum, drawn on the. Commercial Bank of Australia, Ltd., signed A. Parsons and payable to P. Turner, was a good and valid order. A woman resident of the city gave evidence that on May IS, while she and her 'husband were absent from home 'from S.k’O p.lll. to midnight, six blank cheque forms were taken from' a cheque book in her dressing table. IT. A. Tristam. bank accountant at Palmerston North, stated that there were no accounts in the names of the persons shown on two cheques produced. These were from the book referred to by the previous, witness. Evidence was given bv other witnesses as to the cashing of cheques at two hotels. Detective W. R. Fell said that accused said on August 22 that lie would give in Court any explanation of where he was on the night of May 18. Detective G. Hogan, of Wellington, said he had interviewed accused in October last as to two cheques accused allegedly admitted having made out. Witness pro- 1 duced other samples of witness’s writ- j ing and the cheques were produced. C. C. Spedding, handwriting expert, of Auckland, said the four cheques (those referred to in the charges and those produced by Detective Hogan) were in tlie same handwriting. The writing on the cheques had the same - characteristics as those of accused’s signature. This closed the case for the police and accused pleaded not guilty. He was committed to the Supreme Court i lor trial. Bail was allowed. j