JOURNALIST AND ARTIST.

NZ Truth, Issue 160, 11 July 1908, Page 5

JOURNALIST AND ARTIST.

FRED BOOTY IN A BOTHER.

Charged With Uttering.

One Committed, T'other Discharged.

Two respectably-dressed young men, named Frederick Booty, who described himself as an artist and who some time ago was m New Zealand and was engaged on the now defunct "N.Z. Mail,", and Edward Walter Harris, who was entered on the charge sheet as a journalist - t each of whom gave his age as 22 years, were charged before Mr Smithers, S.M., at the. Sydney Central Police Court the other day with uttering a forged banknote of the Bank of New South Wales, knowing the note to be a forgery. Mr J. W. Abigail appeared for the ao? cused. " / Constable Rbbson deposed that about 9.30 a.m. on the 22nd inst. he saw Booty m front of the Newtown Police Court, and told him that he was wanted at I>he police station for identification m connection with the passing of a bad bank note m George-street W^st. Booty replied. "I object to being lined up, With those COMMON CLASS OF PEOPLE. There are friends of mine at the Court dressed similar to, me, .bring them down.". Witness got five or six friends of Booty's, along with> Harris, who was already m custody on- another charge, and they Were all. lined up at ' the station; A young man named Middleton ,was brought m, and identified Booty as the person whp visited Derrin Bros. grocer's shop, 198 Geotge-street, and gave a pound note on the Bank of New South . Wales. The accused made no reply. ' In reply to Mr Abigail, the constable said that Booty denied everything. At Newtpwn Police Court the previous week, Booty was discharged m one case, and the other was withdrawn. The police acted) on certain identifications, wnich were afterwards found unreliable. Booty was lined up m another matter that morning, but the person brought m could not identify him.' ••>' > Senior-Constable tferbut, Randwick, deposed that he saw Booty on June 14 j at the residence of Mrs Bird, Belmore-road, Randwick. He told him of the arrest of Harris, and understood that he had been m his company. The accused said, ''¥es, I was but with him for a ride to Newtown m a tram." Booty added that he lived at 27 Pitt-street, North Sydney; and was with Harris the previous day, at the BritanDia Hotel, m King-street, Where they had several Afterwards they went ,to a Turkish bath establishment, where he cashed a pound note. About 7 o'clock m the evening, at the suggestion of Harris, they went for A RIDE TO NEWTOWN. Harris returned shortly 'after to town, and he (Booty), remained behind : for a little time before following him. Booty turned out his pockets, but had no notes on him. The only one he had he, said he changed at the Turkish baths. Witness, m company pf another constable, searched Booty's residence at North Sydney, but found nothing. . , . ; ! Alexander 1 John Midnleton, grocer's assistant at Derrin Bros.',l»B Georgestreet, stated that on Saturday, June 13, Booty came into the shop between 4 and 5 p.m. He \nade a purchase, he could not remember what it was, but it did not amount to more than.i 2s, and he received from Booty, m payment; ' ,. •■ A PIECE OF PAPUK, ; purporting to be a Bank of .New Soutn' Wales notfe. Witness took.it- to Mr Thorpe, manager, but before doing so, be felt it, and . when he got to the desk he drew the manager's attention, to ; it. Mr Thorpe gave him the change, which he handed, 'to Booty, who then left the shop; The manager, again examined the note. To Mr 'Abigail : He| was £ware that the police held B-poty on another charge when be picked him out, but he was not assisted by the knowledge of the fact. 1 ■", Constable Rpbson told him that Booty, was held on.pther charges. He described the man who gave him the note, ■ and the cpnstable said it was very like Booty. \ Np one pointed Booty otut to 1 him, at iJNewtown Polfice Court. ; Mr Abigail (interposing his person between the witness and the accused Booty, and obstructing his view) : Now, tell me, how long were ypu m picking him put ?►— . \ THREE OR FOUR MINUTES. % How was he dressed "'—ln a black suit. How does he wear his moustache ?— He is tyean-shaved. Is he fair^or dark ?— f^air. •. • ■ Mr , Abigail (standings aside) j Wnat is he?-^Dark. / Sergeant Davis : He's sallow. James Pearson, clerk m the Bank dt New South Wales, deposed that the note produced was a forgery. , Sergeant Davis stated that he had one more witness to prodiuce, Mr Thorpe, who would corroborate young Middleton. His Worship wanted tp ■'■know...' 1 where there was any evidence connecting Harris with the matter: Sergeant Davis : We have no more. - ,His Worship f Then he is discharged; I don't know why he was brought -into it. The sergeant admitted that there was no evidence against him,, p|ut the consta-* pie m charge of the case "wanted Harris to be included. It really did not matter, as Harris , was . already under committal on other charges. ; / His Worship -: Well, if r were m your position I would take the responsibility of not going on with the charge if 1 thought there was nothing m It. Charles Henry Thorpe deposed that he remembered .the no tie. being ; ,brought - to him by Middlctoni . HeP thought Booty was like the man from whom the assistant got the Dote, and to whom ho handed 1.7s or. 18s change. , , Booty was committed for trial at the , Quarter Sessions. He reserved^ his defence.