CHARGE OF FORGERY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3854, 24 January 1928, Page 5

CHARGE OF FORGERY.

ALLEGATION AGAINST ACCOUNTANT. *

CHRISTCHURCH; January 17. ■ ; Denying that the signature on a cheque was his own, James M'Kenzie, a Christchurch coal merchant, told Mr E. D, Mosley, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Cou-t to-day that the accountant who looked after his books had tried to induce him Qu'make a false statement. The accountant,. Cuthbert Harold Flanagan, aged 36, was charged with making out a false

cheque for £3O, drawn on the Bank of New Zealand.

M'Kenzie stated in evidence that the last cheque and butt in his book had been torn out, -and the signature on the cheque for £3O, which the bank had cashed, was not his. The accused had access to the cheque book. A detective said that. Flanagan had at first denied all knowledge of the cheque, but later he stated that it represented a loan which he had had from M'Kenzie. Flanagan had admitted that the body of the cheque was in his handwriting, and he said he had taken it from the back of the cheque book. -In a statement Flanagan had denied the .charge, bat had refused to sign the document. He

then left Christchurch. A warrant wa* issued, and he was arrested at Auckland on December 19.

. Flanagan pleaded not guilty, reserving his defence, and was committed to tha Supreme Court for trial. Bail was renewed at £l5O, and one surety of £l5O.