RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 788, 21 October 1878, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

THIS DAY. (Before T. W. Parkkr, Esq., R.M.) FIGHTING IN THE PUBLIC STREETS. Thomas Mansfield and John Foreman pleaded guilty to having created a disturbance in Thames-street last evening, and were each filled L2. J. . DRUNK~AND DISORDERLY. Two inebriates who made their first appearance were each fined ss, for having been drunk and disorderly. " STRAY CATTLE. The following fines were inflicted for allowing cattle and horses to wander in the streets: W. Collins, two cows, 7s ; Jarvis White, two horses, 15s; David '"'.- Nt, one liorse (with tether .r*™ V '■< L; William Lemon, one horse, 5s ; Thomas Benling, one horse (with tether rope), 12s 6d ; James Reid, one cow, 5s ; Patrick M'Cusker, one cow, ss. STEALING A FOWL. R. Richardson, alias "Lanky Sam," was charged with having stolen a fowl belonging to one M'Grath, of Dunedin. Prisoner pleaded not guilty, arid was remanded. . i... FORGERY. , Villiam White was charged with having forged'a cheque for L 4 7s, drawn upon the Bank of New South Wales, and purporting to be signed by Messrs. J. and T. Taylor. The prisoner was not defended. Sub-Inspector Smith prosecuted. Ernest Edward Castelli, teller in the Bank of New South Wales, deposed that on the 19th September prisoner or a man very much like him came into the bank. He was dressed in the same manner as the prisoner was then dressed. He asked witness for a cheque-book for George Hay, of Dunedin, and was supplied with one containing twenty-four cheques. The cheques were numbered, commencing 000,151. The cheque produced was takon out of that book, and is uumbered 000,153. He was quite certain that no other cheque-book bearing the same numbers as that sold to prisoner has been sold to any other person in Oamaru. The cheque produced is drawn for L 4 7s, and purports to be signed J. and T. Taylor. The signature to the cheque is a fair copy of the signature of Messrs. J. and T. Taylor, who have an account at the bank, but it is not theirs. There is no account in the bank in prisoner's name, neither has prisoner any account there in any name. Witness produced a cheque drawn by Messrs. J. and T. Taylor in favor of William White, dated 4th March, and endorsed " William White." The writing in the endorsement of that cheque was similar to that in the body of the other cheque, and he had no doubt that they had been written by the same person. : Thomas Taylor, a German residing at Duntroon, and one of the firm of J. and T. Taylor, deposed that he knew the accused by the name of William White, and had known him since January last. Prisoner had been in Messrs. Taylor's employment as cook for about three months, and had been paid his wages by cheque. On the 20th last September prisoner was at their place travelling in search of work. He was then dressed in the same manner as at present. Witness did not employ him then, nor give him any cheques. The firm of J. and T. Taylor had a banking account at the Bank of New South Wales, The signature to the cheque was not witnesses, and he had not authorised anyone to sign it. He knew of no other firm of the name of J. and T. Taylor in the district.

James Taylor, one of the firm of J. and T. Taylor, gave evidence of a similar nature, and stated that he knew prisoner's writing, having seen it frequently while in the employ of the firm. He had never seen the chequ.e produced before, and had not signed it or authorised anyone else to do so. Ellen i>eihl, wife gf Mr. IJcihl, landlord of the Royal Hotel, Otepopo, deposed that' the cheque produced had been cashed by her. It had been given to her by a servant man named William Lees, about a fortnight ago. Slie had not been in the bar immediately before or after cashing the cheque. William Lees could not appear in Court, as he was laid up with rheumatic fever. ; John Neill, detective constable stationed at Timaru, stated that on the loth inst. lie arrested the accused at Geraldine. He was then working under the name of William White for Mr. Ppstlethwaite. Witness read the wara'ant tp' prisoner, who said nothing. On taking him to the lock-iip he found several letters in his pocket-book and a small strip of paper with J, and T, Taylor written upon it. The name William White was written in the pocket-book. On the application of Sub-Inspector Smith, the prisoner was remanded until Mondaynext in order to obtain the attendance of Lees.