RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 6945, 26 February 1890, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Yesterday. (Before H. A. Stratford, Esq., R.M.) DBUNKBNNEBB. Two first offenders wero oharged with the above offence, and wero each lined 5« with tho option of seven hours' imprison went. Thomas Ilartiiotb waa also charged with a like offence, and was tired 10*, with tho alternative of 24 hours' imprisonment.

ASSAULT. George Munroe and William Crombie were, charged with violently assaulting John Shiueek, and with stealing two pounds, one purse, one pocket-book, and one pocket knifo from the said John Shineek. Inspector Thompson »aid th* men had been in a house of ill-fame, and after leaving tho prosecutor had buen knocked down and robbed of the artioles men^ tioned. He asked for a remand till next morning, which wan granted. jrOKCHNG AND UTTERING. Lawrence Flynu was charged with having, on or about the 16th February, at Kurow, forged a cheque on the National Bank, for Ll2 10s 4d, and with having uttered the same. Mr Newton appeared for the defendant, and Inspector Thompson prosecuted if. \V. Thiele said on the 16th of this month tho accused came to his store at 10 o'clock at night. Accused said he owed witness a small account, and he wished I to settle it. The amount of the account i was LI 4s, and accused handed witness the cheque produced. Witness said the chequo had beeu tampered with, and accused said ho had done nothing with it. Witness said the amount on the cheque was L2 loa 4d, and accused said that was right. He askod accused to endorse tho cheque, which he did. Ho gave tho accused the change of LI 6s 4d. Accused said he was going up oountry parly in the morning, and witness, knowing that the signature of Mr Eason was genuine, said he would present the cheque at the Bank, and if payment was refused he would ask Mr Eason for another one. The Bank refused payment. • l ' To Mr Newton : The accused never asked for more in change than LI Gs 4d. Acoused, when spoken to, at once agreed that the cheque was for L 2 10s 4d. Thomas Henry Eason, employed at the Hakatoramea Station, said the accused linct been in his employ from tho 13th of January to the 15th of February of this year. He had paid him off on Sunday, the 16th inst., and the cheque for L 2 10s 4d produced was the one he had given aocused. The cheque was not then in the state it was now. The word "two" bal been mutilated, and a figure " one " had been placed before the two to make it appear like a twelve. The amount he owed acoused was L 2 10s 4d. Constable Macdonald, gaoler at Oamaru, said he received the accused into the gaol on the 19th inst., ou a charge of forgery. Ou the 20th witness had a conversation with the accused. In the course of the conversation tho acoused said that he was guilty of forging the cheque, and wan going to plead guilty. The accused at this time knew that he was charged with forgery. By Mr Newton ; At the time accused made the confession h« was a prisoner under a warrant charging him with forging a cheque for L2O 10s 4d, At this time accused was not charged with altering h cheque. This closed the case for the prosecution. The accused reserved his defonoe, and was committed for trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court at Oamaru, on tho 18th of March. ANOTHER CHARdE. Lawrence Flynn was also charged with having, on or about tho 17th inst, forged and uttered a cheque for L2O 10s 4d, drawn on the National Bank of New Zealand, Alfred Bloxham, manager of Mr W. Waddells business at Kurow, said on the evening of the 10th of this month the accused called at witness' shop and asked to be supplied with some clothing. Tho goods were supplied to him, the value being L 3 7s. Accused handed witness a cheque for L2O 10s 4d, purporting to be signed by Mr Eason. The cheque produced was the one. Witness asked accußod if the cheque was one of Mr Eason's, of the Hakateramea, and he replied that it was. Witness took the cheque to Mr Delargy's to get it cashed, and afterwares handed the accused the balance of Ll7 13s. Bernard Delargy said he identißed the cheque produoed as the one he cashed for Henry Bloxham on the 16th inst. The cheque was presented for payment, arid was returned with the endorsement "irregular." J. W. Petrie, lodger-keeper at the National Bank, said the cheque produced was presented at the National Bank, but as the body was not properly filled in and as the signature was not quite correct, jt was returned marked "irregular." The cheque purported to be signed by T;hos. Henry Eason, Thos. Henry Eason said he had not signed the cheque produced, nor had ho authorised anyone to sign the chequo. Constable Macdonald, gaolor at Oamaru, repeated the evidence previously given by him as to the acoussed's admission of having forged the cheque. By Mr Newton : He had not cautioned tho accused before the statement was made, but he did so before ho had finished doing so. This closed the case. The accused was committed to take his trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court at Oamaru, on the 18fch March.