ALLEGED FORGERY OF WILL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16673, 18 October 1917, Page 4

ALLEGED FORGERY OF WILL.

WELLINGTON PROSECUTION. [by telegraph.— association.] WELLINGTON. Wednesday. A MAX named George Harris was charged at the Magistrate's Court to-day with forging a document purporting to lie a will, signed by John Smith, and with uttering the same to tho Public Trus- , tee. ] Mr. Macassey, who appeared for the I prosecution, said that John Smith, a man I 78 years of age, was in company with an I old friend, Timothy O'Loughlin, on June ; 20. O'Loughlin inquired of Smith if he ; had made his will, Smith replying " No, I I must." Smith died that night. The ! fol'owing morning the accused went to see O'Loughlin, and informed him that Smith was dead, and asked if he thought there i was a will. O'Loughlin told him what 1 Smith had said the previous day. Sis months after deceased's death O'Loughlin met Mr. and Mrs. Harris, and they told him the will had turned up, and that Mrs. Harris was the person in whose favour the will was made out. On December 7 the Public Trustee received a letter signed by a man called Frederick Eraser, together with a will purporting to have been written and signed by John Smith, deceased, and expressed to' be at tested by Frederick Fraser and another witness called Morrison. For the purposo of proving the will the Public Trust Office made exhaustive inquiries as to the attesting witnesses. They, however, were unable to discover either of these men, and placed the matter in the hands of the police. In the will the sum of £50 was bequeathed to accused's daughter, aged four years, and the balance, £700, to hi* wife. All of deceased's family were ex eluded from the will. After tho evidence of several witnesses I had bam taken the case was adjourned. .-'