ALLEGED FORGERY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8630, 28 July 1891, Page 6

ALLEGED FORGERY.

PRISONER COMMITTED FOR TRIAL, The charge of forging aud uttering brought against the man Kennedy, who was arrested last week on the arrival of the Wainui, was heard at the Police Courb yesterday before Messrs. H. M. Jervis and Jaraos Broom, J.P.'e. The accused is a welldreseed young man of respectable appearance. Inspector Brohatn conducted the case for the. prosecution. Kennedy was nob represented by counsel. William Kennedy, alias Joseph Watson Kennedy, was charged with having, on or about the 27fch Juno,forged a cheque on the Bank of New Zealand for the sum of £6 10s, purporting to be signed by Arthur Yatea and Co., and with having uttered the same to J. W. Shackelford, well knowing it to be forged. John Wisdom Shaokelford, draper, Queen-street, deposed that on Saturday, the 27th June, acensed came , to his shop about nine o'clock in the evening. Hβ bought three shirts for 27s 6d, for which he tendered the cheque produced for £610s, purported to be signed by Arthur Yates and Co. Witness gave the sum of £5 2s 6d to accused as change. Witness subsequently discovered the cheque [to bo valueless.

Ernest Yates, of the firm of Arthur Yates and Co., seed merchants, Queen-street, deposed that his brother Arthur was the Sydney partner, and lived in Sydney. The cheque produced was not issued by the firm. The only person in Auckland authorised by bhe firm to sign cheques were himself and the manager. His brother in Sydney also signed cheques for the firm. Witness banked with the Bank of New South Wales.

William Woodhouse, ledger-keeper at the Bank of New Zealand, deposed that Yates and Co. had no accounb at bhe Bank of New Zealand.

Arthur Bush Christian, teller af the Bank of New Zealand, deposed that he saw the accused at bhe Bank on bhe 27th of June last. He asked for a cheque-book for Dr. Kennedy. Wibness asked accused if he had an account at the Bank, and he replied that he was just opening an.accounb. Accused was supplied wibh a book, and bhe cheque produced was extracted from this book. Accused had no accounb at the Bank.

Detective Ede deposed that he found the cheque-book produced among the effects of bhe accused, who admitted that it was his property, and bhab he had obtained ib from the Bank of New Zealand. He made no abatement in reference to the charge. Prisoner reserved his defence.

Kennedy was further charged with having forged a cheque for £5, and with having uttered the same to Henry Sawkins, knowing it to bo forged. Charles Stephen Goldsmith, an of Mr. Sawkins, bootmaker, Victoriastreet, deposed the accused came to bhe shop about nine o'clock on bhe evening of Saturday, the 27th June. He bought a pair of boots, valued at 255, for which he presented a cheque on bhe Bank of New Zealand, for £5, purporting bo be signed by Arbhur Yates and Co. Wibness handed the cheque to Mr. Sawkins. Henry Sawkins deposed that ho remembered bhe previous witness handing him the cheque produced upon bhe evening of the 27th June, He asked bhe accused if bhe cheque was right, bo which he received the answer "Yes." He then gave accused £3 15s as change. Ernesb Yates deposed thab tho cheque produced was nob issued by the firm. The signabure was nob genuine. William Woodhouse and Arthur Bush Christian alst> gave evidence. Prisoner was nexb charged wibh having forged and uttered a cheque for bhe sura of £5 6s, on the 27th June.

Dr. Wilkins oleposod that accused came to his rooms, Shovtland-street, on Saturday afternoon, the 27fch June. He consulted witness with regard to deafness. Witness told him that ho would probably have to come off and on f6r two months. Prisoner replied that he would have to go to Sydney shortly. He also stated that he was one of the managers for the firm of Yates and Co. Kennedy tendered the cheque (produced) for £5 6«. Witness charged 10s 6d for consultation, and also one guinea for the operation, which was to haye been performed on the following day, and gave Kennedy £3 14s ai change. William Woodhouse, Ernest Yates, and A. B. Christian, also gave evidence. A further charge of forging and uttering a cheque for the sum of £5 10s, on the 27th June, was next brought against the accused.

Thomas Ellison, boot importer, Qqeenstreet, deposed fcliab Kennedy came to his shop on the evening of the 27th. Witness sold him a pair of boots, and received the cheque produced in payment. Witness at first threw down the cheque and said be would not take it. However, prisoner .assured him that he was the Sydney brother in the firm of Arthur VTates and Co., and had just arrived in Auckland on a visit to his brother. He also described the business of tho firm in Manchester. Witness then thought the cheque was all right, and prave Kennedy £4 2s as change. Earnest Yates, William Woodhouse, and A. B. Christian, also gave evidence. Prisoner was next charged with having forged and uttered a cheque for tho amount of £12 12s, on the 15th July. This cheque waa given as payment for passage from Tonga to Auckland by the Wainui, purported to be signed by E. Porter and Co. John Edward Casson, assistant purser on board the Wainui, deposed that on the 15th July he saw prisoner on board the steamer which was then at Nukualofa, Tonga. "He asked for a passage to Auckland, for which he tendered the cheque produced, which bore the signature of E. Porter and Co. ; Alexander Christie Walker, purser, deposed that he received the cheque produced from the previous witness. Prisoner stated that tho cheque was a good one, and that he was an employe of the firm of Porter and Cn. On arrival in Auckland the cheqae was found to be a forgery. Alfred Porter, of the firm of E. Porter and Co., deposed that the signature on the cheque produced was nob that of the firm. They banked with the Colonial Bank. William Woodhouse and A. B. Christian also gave evidence. Sergeant Clarke deposed that he arrested accused on the 20th instant on board the Wainui.

Prisoner was then committed for trial ,pn each of the above charges. He reserved his defence.