CHARGE OF FORGERY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12909, 4 July 1905, Page 3

CHARGE OF FORGERY.

A THAMES CASE.

[BY 'TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Thames, Monday. At the Thames Police Court, Thomas Gilbert Brown,; the young man who was arrested on June 28, appeared this morning on two charges of forging the names of Manfred MoMahon and Jas. W. Rickitt, to cheques, the former for £8 10s and the latter for £6 10s. Sergeant Darby conducted the prosecution, and stated that accused had, on June 27, obtained three blank cheques from the licensee of the Pacific Hotel, and had afterwards presented two of them, one to the licensee of the Wharf Hotel, filled in for £8 10s, and bearing the name of Manfred McMahon, and one to the licensee of the Junction Hotel for £6 10s, bearing the name of Jas. Rickitt.

Evidence was given by T. C. Christians, licensee of the Pacific Hotel, to the effect that accused came to him at the hotel on dune 27, and stated that he had been sent by Mr. Carlsen, of the Lady Bowea Hotel, lor two blank cheques for Mr. Carlsen Witness gave accused three blank cheques from his book, and the numbers corresponded with those of the cheques'produced m Court.

William Mooney, son of the licensee of the Wharf Hotel, stated that he knew the accused, who came to the' bar of the Wharf Hotel on the evening of June 27, and after having a couple of drinks handed witness a letter 1 ,- which he took upstairs to his father. The envelope contained a cheque for £8 10s, and a letter purporting to be from Mr. George Fisher, Taratu, and asking Mr. Mooney to cash the cheque for him. The cheque was then cashed for the accused, who received eight £1 notes and nine shillings. On the following day, he (witness) took the cheque to the Bank of New Zealand, and the officials at the bank told him to take the cheque to the police after writing "no account" on the back.

This evidence was corroborated by the father of .the last witness, William Mooney, sen., who is the licensee of the Wharf Hotel, who added that after his son returned from the bank with the cheque he (witness) took it to the police station and handed it over to Detective De Norval.

. Manfred MoMahon, licensee of the Tara.ru Hotel, deposed , that the cheque produced, bearing his name, was not signed by him, and was nothing like his writing. He. had no account' at the Bank of New' Zealand. ■■ He had no hesitation in stating that the cheque was a forgery. Elizabeth McMahon, wife of the last witness, stated that she knew accused, who had stayed with them for some weeks. She also knew his handwriting, and on being shown the two cheques she said she recognised tiro handwriting on the two cheques, and also on the letter signed Geo. Fisher, as the handwriting of the accused. Mrs. Agnew, wife of the licensee of the Cornwall Arms Hotel, and Mrs. McKay, licensee of the Junction Hotel, gave evidence as to the accused presenting the second cheque (which was signed James Rickitt), for £6 10s, to them, and in both cases the cheque was refused as the witnesses were doubtful of the signature. J. W. Rickitt, livery stable-keeper, stated that he did not know the accused. The cheque produced was not signed by him, and he was satisfied it was a forgery. A Carlsen, licensee of the Lady Bowen Hotel, deposed that he knew accused, but had not at any time authorised him to obtain cheques for him from any .person, and knew nothing of his obtaining cheques in his name from the Pacific Hotel, on June 27.

Detective De Nerval gave evidence as to arresting accused on June 28, on a charge of forging and uttering cheques. When arrested accused at first denied any knowledge of the, cheques, but afterwards owned to having filled up the two cheques, and changing one at-the Wharf Hotel. Accused further stated that he had spent a portion of the money purchasing clothing. Witness found the sum of £2 on accused when searching him, which was in the possession of the police. _ The presiding justices, Messrs. J. L. Wailton and S. Hetherington, then adjourned the case until Friday next, or until the return of the stipendiary magistrate (Mr. R. S. Bush).