POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17753, 12 April 1921, Page 6

POLICE COURT NEWS.

FORGERY AND UTTERING.

COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE.

Charges of having forged and Tittered a cheque for £284 15s, and of having broken and entered the premises of Francis Fowler, Elliott Street, and stolen two cheque forma were preferred against a young man, Robert Harvey Campbell (Mr. Singer) in the Police Court yesterday before Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M. Evidence was given that the premises were entered on the night of Aprjl 5, an entrance being forced through a back window.

Francis Fowler, a plumber, carrying on business under the name of F. and W. Fowler, said two blank cheque forms were stolen, nothing else' in the office having been disturbed. The signature on the cheque for £284 16s (produced) was not his, nor was any of the writing or figures in the body. At a casual glance the signature was a fair imitation of his. Accused had been employed by the firm for about four months recently. Albert George Mason, clerk in the Bank of New South Wales, gave evidence to the effect that accused, on April 6, produced at the bank a cheque for £284 16s, signed F. and W. Fowler, payable to James Bailer.

Cyril John Wallace, teller at the bank, said that on April 6 accused went to him to make a deposit to the credit of James Bailer. He was opening a new account, and produced a cheque for £284 16s. signed F. and W. Fowler. He was given a cheque book, valued at ss, and signed a cheque for £180, which amount he said he needed to pay accounts. Asked why he did not draw a cheque, he said he wanted to pay in cash. Before paying out, witness went to verify the signature on the first cheque. When he returned to pay the £180 the man had gone, taking the cheque and the cheque book with him.

Detective-Sergeant Ward said that with Detective O'Sullivan he visited accused at his house on April 7. Accused 6aid that when he reached home be had burned the cheque book and the cheque for £180. He had torn up the other cheque form. His wife was expecting an illness, and he had wanted money to obtain things for her. Accused pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Bail was allowed. IMPRISONMENT FOP. THEFT.

James Edward Reddaway denied charges of drunkenness, breach of prohibition orcler, and the theft of a glass tumbler, valued at Is 6d.- The tumbler had been taken from an hotel in which accused had been drinking, and had been found in his possession. Accused said it had been placed in his pocket by a friend as a joke. Accused, who had 33 previous convictions, was sentenced to seven days' imprisonment on the theft charge.

" TWO CASES OF ASSAULT. When charged with having assaulted Crawford James in Customs Street while drunk James Fagin said he had no recollection of the incident, or of having been arrested. He was fined £2, in default seven days' imprisonment. Michael McMahon admitted having assaulted his wife, and having broken his prohibition order. Drink was stated to be the cause of the trouble. He was ordered to come up for sentence on October 1. He consented to his wife's application for a separation order.

DISTURBANCE IN QUEEN STREET.

The outcome of a disturbance outside a Queen Street hotel on Saturday was a charge against Thomas Rogers, a fireman on the Canadian Highlander, of having used threatening behaviour while drunk. He pleaded not guilty. He had been arrested while exchanging blows with another man who had run away. It was stated that the other man had previously been assaulted by someone else. After hearing accused's evidence the magistrate imposed a fine of £1.

MISCELLANEOUS OFFENCESFor having used obscene language in the street, James Hamilton was fined £5, in default one month's imprisonment. and for a similar offence while drunk. Thomas Manley was fined £3. William Chambers Robert Clark were each fined £5 committing an indecent act in the street. A fine of £3 was imposed on James McGee for drunkenness and breach of his prohibition order. " .