IN-CONSTABLE IN TROUBLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2924, 30 March 1910, Page 15

IN-CONSTABLE IN TROUBLE.

CHARGES OF FORGERY. WELLINGTON, March 23. An ex-constable named William Patrick M'Dermott, alias Arthur Shrelfo, already awaiting trial on a number of charges of forgery, was brought before Mr W. G. Riddell, S.M., to-day to answer two additional .allegations. One charge was thaA he forged the name of J. A. Farmer to a document, being a request for money sent to Joseph Ames. Chief-detective Broberg prosecuted. Joseph Ames, commission agent, gave evidence to the effect that on December 30 last he received a letter purporting to come from J. A? Farmer, private horse-trainer, to Mr W. E. Bidwill, of the Wairarapa. The writer requested that witness should leave £lO with Messrs Izard and Weston, sMLitors, in a supplied envelope, to J. A. Hutton. In the latter envelope was a note addressed to Hutton asking him to nominate Mr Bidwill's racehorses Tribulation and Provocation for various events at a Sydney racing meeting. Witness received the letter too late to leave the money with Messrs Izard and Weston. He communicated with a friend who forwarded the nominations to Sydney. Later these were cancelled.

J. A. Farmer, Mr Bidwill's horse trainer, denied writing the letters, and also that he had not authorised anybody to nominate the horses for the events.

Andrew Paterson, solicitor, stated that on December 30 last a note was found under the door of Messrs Izard and Weston's office. The letter advised that the writer, who signed himself " T. Hutton," was expecting £lO to be left for him with Messrs Izard and Weston.

Sergeant Dart produced two police reports written by accused while in the 'Police Force in May, 1908. Theodore Richard Hiekson, accountant in the Bank of New South Wales,, gave it as his opinion. that the various letters put in and the police reports were written by the same person. Henry John King, teller in the Bank of New Zealand, gave corroborative evidence regarding the handwriting. Accused pleaded " Not guilty," and intimated that he proposed to "call evidence.

Joseph Hamilton, billiard marker, denied all knowledge of accused. Other evidence called by M'Dermott was held to be irrelevant.

Having no other witnesses, accused was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. In addition, accused was also charged with forging the name, of T. llutton to a document . for a request for money, which .he uttered to Andrew Patterson. In this case it was alleged that accused telephoned to Staples's Brewery, in the name of Mrs o'Halloran, licensee of the Porirua Hotel. He asked that £5 be left with Messrs Izard and Weston. The rnoney was forwarded and a boy called for it, but delivery was refused. Accused himself called and said that, he was related to Mrs O'Halloran, and gave a receipt for the amount in the name of T. Hutton. Accused pleaded " Not guilty," and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial.