FORGERY CHARGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23178, 26 October 1938, Page 19

FORGERY CHARGE

LAND HO Alf D VOUCHER ACCOUNTANT ON TRIAL A MAORI'S ACCUSATIONS QUESTION OF SIGNATURE On a charge of having forged and littered a Maori land board voucher for £l(3 10s George Graham, accountant, aged (33, was tried before Air. Justice Fair and a jury in the I Supreme Court yesterday. The specific charge was that on February 21, 19HG, Ihe forged a signature oil a Waiariki ! District Maori Land Jioard voucher lor i the payment of £l(3 10s to Kaput a | Pita, of Helensvillc, and there was a j second count of causing a postal to act upon it as genuine. The j Crown Prosecutor, Mr. V. 11. Meredith, conducted the prosecution, and Air. Sclwyn Clarke appeared for the j defence.

Mr. Meredith said the charge was that Graham forged Rapata's signature to a voucher, handed it to a post office clerk and received the money, and that Papata had never received it.

Graham had done some business for Papata in 19.35, and when Rapata learned that he had some interest in land at Taurangn he asked Graham to look into tho matter for him. Evidence would be given that on February 4. 19H6, Graham knew that there was £l6 10s for Rapata at Potorua, but instead of telling Rapata of this he wrote to Potorua, asking that the money he sent to Rapata at his (Graham's) address. Money Paid Out

On February 20, continued Mr. Meredith. Graham telegraphed to Rotoruft asking that the money he sent at once, and on the same day he wrote Rapata saying he had not yet heard from Rotorua. The money actually arrived for Rapata, care of Graham, that day. Apparently Graham went to the post office with another native, whom he identified to the clerk as Jhi pat a Pita, and drew the money on a forged signature. Rapata would say the signature was a forged one and that he knew nothing of it. Subsequent correspondence between Graham and Rapata confirmed this. Later Graham told Rapata that 30s was due to him from Rotorua. but that would be proved to be untrue. In a statement to the police Graham paid that Rapnta signed the voucher in his presence and drew the £lO 10s from the post office in his presence. There was a straight-out issue between Graham and Rapata, and it was for tho jury to consider where the truth lay.

By consent Mr. Meredith put in enlarged photographic reproductions of the signatures in question. Signature Denied

Rapata l'ita Pakaru, of Helensville, gave evidence supporting the Crown's case as outlined. He said lie went to Rotorua Inst Easter and was shown at the Land Board office a voucher in his name for £l6 10s. He had not signed it or received any of tho money. In answer to Mr. Clarke, witness said ho was also known as Robert Sydney En oka. His usual signature was "Robert Pita Pakaru," but Graham told him he was not allowed to use that signature. Witness denied that he had ever seen before a Maori woman whom Mr. Clarke had brought into Court. He was granted the services of an interpreter. He said he had not mado any complaints about the way money was being handed over to him by the child welfare department. James Leslie Woodhouse, formerly child welfare offircr at Helensville, gave evidence regarding money from the child welfare department that he had handled for Rapata.

/ Officials' Evidence A teller at the chief post offiee, Auckland, Edgar Frank Allan, described the procedure with Maori land board vouchers, and said the signature on the one produced had been endorsed as correct by the accused. In answer to Mr. Clarke, witness said the money would be paid not to Graham, but to the native, who was present as payee". An accountant in the Native Department at Rotorua. Leslie John Brookcr. read correspondence between the accused and the department and Rapata and the department. When Rapata came in inquiring about the £l6 10s voucher, it was found that there appeared to be a marked difference between his signature and that on the voucher. Inquiries were set on foot. Detective Brady said that when he reported Rapata's complaint to the accused, accused said, "I don't know why he should complain. He got the money all right." In a written statement. accused described his inquiries on behalf of Rapata, and said he had witnessed Rapata's signature on the voucher and seen him get the £lO 10s at the Post Office.

The further hearing of evidence was adjourned until this morning.