ALLEGED FORGERY

Southland Times, Issue 19546, 9 May 1925, Page 8

ALLEGED FORGERY

EX-POSTAL OFFICER CHARGED. \ THE JURY DISAGREE. (Per United Press Association.) TIMARU, May 8. James Murray, an ex-postal official, was charged' at'the Supreme Court before Mr i Justice Adams with having forged the sig- | nature of J. R. Macdonald, farm labourer, ; Albury, to a Post Office Savings Bank withdrawal form, by which accused withdrew £2OO from Macdonald’s account and cdiiverted it to his own use. ..Accused put forward an elaborate defence. He said that Macdonald had himself signed the withdrawal form and had lent him the £2OO. HaVing failed to get the money repaid by accused, he was now charging him with having forged his signature, so that he could recover it from the Postal Department. There was no entry in Macdonald's passbook showing the withdrawal of the money, and accused accounted for this by saying that Macdonald had not his pass-book with him when he signed the withdrawal form. Macdonald emphatically denied accord’s statement, and said he had nevergiven authority to anyone to withdraw his money. Considerable evidence was heard, the case lasting two full days. The Jury, after four hours’ retirement, disagreed, and a new trial was ordered for the August session. The Court rose at 2 a.m.