P. J. HUGHES AGAIN.

NZ Truth, Issue 151, 9 May 1908, Page 4

P. J. HUGHES AGAIN.

POSES AS A PLUTOCRAT.

Pleads Not Guilty to a Charge of Forgery.

Ana Has to Stand His Trial.

A country gent who is not content with one name, but describes himself as Percival John Hughes, A. Bartlett, A. Williams, as . the occasion suits him, appeared before Mi Riddell, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court, Wellington, on Wednesday, to answer a charge of forging the name of Guy Williams to a cheque for £10, and uttering the same to Ethel Grant. Edward James Rouse, laborer, stated that he met accused at the Grand National Hotel. Petone, and the two - had several drinks together. Accused said that he was A RUN HOLDER named Guy"~Williams, and had > a station m the Wairarapa. Accused asked Mr Redmond, the licensee of the hotel, for a blank cheque. Accused wrote something on the cheque, then tore it up and asked witness to trocure another blank cheque. Witness procured a blank cheque, and accused told witness to place his signature to the payee. Witness did so, and then accused signed, it at the bottom "Guy Williams." Witness and accused had several more drinks and then went to Grant's shop to cash the cheque. Witness took accused to the Railway Boarding House, and on the way accused gave witness a parcel, which contained two shifts, for taking him to the boarding house. Ethel Grant, wife of Ernest Grant, outfitter, at Petone, stated -that accused called, at the shop on the 18th ult. and stated that he was a. customer of Mr Grant's, and wanted an overcoat. Accused procured goods to the value of £8 and stated that ne was Guy Williams, and ....>" OWNED A BIG ESTATE at Masterton, He was also, cousin, to Mr/T. C. Williams, a squatter at Masterton. Accused presented the. cheque nreduced, and was given £2 change. The cheque was subsequently handed to the police. , Guy. Williams, part owner of Te Parae station, Masterton, staterl that the cheque produced was not signed by him, and no one was authorised to si.an cheques for him. Accused had been working on the station m the name of Williams, but jvitness did not know his Christian name. ' ..Frederick ,Wga.,, Roberts, ledger keeper at r ,tbe Bank' qfj Australasia', stated that the, cheque presented at tlie bank 6n,..sjj£ gjsft w&nr'il, .and was marked "no 'account.'' ' There' was no person named,. "Guy Williams" with an account at ■*•'. h(?' J bank. -' ; - -Accused had no account atstho fojfttk.. :W?jj. ■ ■ 'Tec. Brobe*js>'!fcta?edJ<-that he charted accused withsnthgi oitenfce, and he said : "I admit tha^Ho'had-jro authority to j sitrn the cheque ;- : (I .>must have be,_n | drunk." Accused said' that he'.hnd '^n working m the name of John Williams at Te Parae" station. I Accused ' pleaded not guilty, and reserved his defence. He was committed to the Supreme Court for trial.