MAGISTRATE'S COURT

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9722, 26 July 1917, Page 8

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

INDICTABLE CASES. DEFENDANTS COMMITTED FOB TRIAL. Arthur Thomas Lamb was .charged vesterdav before Mr S. E. McCarthy, S.M.. with false pretences, in that he (1) on April 20th did obtain goods from Annie Taitt to the value of £i 15s by means of a valueless cheque; and (2) on July 10th. at Palmerston North, did obtain from F. Slater one Indian motor cvcle. valued at 10s, by means of a valueless cheque. Accused was represented hy Mr P. W. Jackson. * Annie Taitt. wife of Walter Taitt, proprietor of the Globe Machine Shop, Manners street, deposed that during her husband's absence in April last accused came to the shop and asked to see some sewing machines. Later in the month he called again, selected a machine, and tendered -a cheque for -t'4 15s in pyment. He gave his name as Lamb, and described himself as a tailor. The cheque, was subsequently returned marked. ■ “account closed." . Defendant was communicated with at the camp at Peatherston. and later the machine was returned to the shop. Witness's husband wrote to accused to the effect that the matter would bo placed in the hands of the police if the machine was not returned. _ ■ , , Frederick Thomas H. Brabant, bank official, employed at the Bank of Australasia at Featherston, testified to the signature of accused, and a stated .that his account at the bank was closed on March 21st. . ... James Torrance, acting-detective, said that when he arrested Lamb in company with Aoting-Detective O Connor, Lamb said he was not aware that hts account at the bank had been closed. Frederick Slater, salesman in the employ of the Nonpareil Motor Company, Palmerston North, said accused came to his employers' premises and inquired for a second-hand Indian motor cycle. A number of machines were shown him. but none were suitable. He went away and came back again when he was shown a new Indian machine, which he decided to purchase, offering £3O deposit and the balance at the rate of £7 10s per week, the price being £94* 10s. The accessories on the machine brought the price to £99 9s Gd. Defendant gave the name of A. C- Thomas, of Brooklyn, Wellington. The cheque was on a Wellington bank, and was returned marked “no account.” .Accused wrote the cheque out in the shop. , .. _ - James Torrance, acting-detective, in* formed the Bench that Lamb, when arrested, stated that .he took of Thomas because he was full up of that of Lamb. He admitted the signature on the cheque to he his. , Accused, who reserved_ his defence, was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. “A WOMAN IN THE. CASE.”

Marcus Joseph Patrick /Keogh, charged with forging the names of J. Deere and M. Eyan to an application certificate for a newspaper reporter s railway ticket, and with attempting to utter the same to the stationm aster at Auckland, was defended by Mr P. H. Putnam. ' . w . , . Heinrich Ferdinand von Haast, barrister and solicitor, said ho had acted as legal adviser to the accused. On lebruary 21st he received a certificate for a newspaper reporter’s ticket through the post. Ho had no connection .with, nor had he anything to which this application would apply regarding. Keogh s affairs. Consequently he wrote to M. Eyan, reporter, "New Zealand Tablet, Auckland, and later accused was informed by witness that he had received a document which he supposed had been sent in mistake, and as far as he remembered Keogh acquiesced. Michael Eyan, reporter, employed on the "New Zealand Tablet.” residing at Palmerston North, said' he had known the accused for about six years. The signature on the certificate was not his. Terence Joseph Deere, resident representative and reporter ' for the "New Zealand Tablet” at Auckland, stated that he was introduced to Keogh about three years ago, who was then on the staff of the “Tablet.” Witness had authority to sign reporters’ application certificates, but ‘ the signature on the one produced was not his. Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Harcourt Turner, in charge of Motuihi Island, Auckland, said that Keogh reported for duty in December, 1916, and was transferred back to Headquarters, Wellington, at his own request, on March 31st last. Detective-Sergeant Eawle deposed to accused making a statement, which, when read over, was signed by him. Constable J. K. Eobertson, who escorted Keogh from Auckland to Wellington, said that accused in course of conversation remarked, "there is a woman at the bottom of it.” Accused, who pleaded not guilty and reserved his defence, was committed to the Supreme Court for trial.