Supreme Court

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 85, 15 August 1923, Page 8

Supreme Court

NEW PLYMOUTH SESSIONS. ALLEGED FORCERV AND UTTERINC Charges of having forged two cheques at Manaia on or about May 10, and later uttering them at Hawera, thereby obtaining goods and money by, means of false pretences, wore preferred against Jchn Howard William Tapp in the Supreme Court at New Plymouth yesterday. Mr Justice Chapman wa s on tho bench. M r H. R.' Billing prosecuted, the accused being represented-by Mr V. O'Dea. Tho jury empanelled was as follows: Messrs H. Townley (foreman).. A. Pearce, E. D. Whittle, 1. E. Beard, G-. O. M. Gibson, J. Cliff, W. GuTord, A. J. Topliss, 11. Tippins, J. Blumann, A. Mackay, and R. L. Slyfield. i

Outlining the case against the accused, Mr Billing said that on May 12 a man came info the shop of George R. Watts, bootmaker, at Manaia. and asked for a cheque. There were some footballers in the shop at the time, and Watts thought it was one of them, but he could not definitely identify, the man to whom he had given the cheque. Another cheque was obtained in a" similar manner from Thomas Suride, a rostruraant-kecper at Manaia, the porson obtaining the cheque stating that he owed a couple of pounds which ho wanted to pay there and then. The cheques were cashed at Hawera, the signature being "J. E. Young." Tho accused had worked for Young, Mr Billing stated, and had always been paid by cheque.

Evidence would )c <'-'-d io show that the cheques were cashed by the accused, one at the Melbourne Go's shop and the other at Harrops, Ltd. Tho cheque cashed at the Melbourne was for £lO 16b, goods to the valueu&f IDs being given and change totalling £9 lG.s Gd. At Harrops goods valued at £1 8s 3d were purchased, the balance of £ll 7s 3d being handed over to tho accused. In each case exchange was deducted on the cheques. If the. accused cashed the.cheques, Mr Billing added, it did «ot matter very much for the Crown's case that there was no evidence of his having forged thein.

Evidence on the lines of counsel's opening was given by several \yitnesses. Young said tlmt he had not issued the cheques and that the signatures wore not his.. Sundo stated deJinitoly that it was the accused who had obtained the idank cheque from him. In answer to Mr O'Dea, he admitted having stated in Lie lower court that he could not positively identify the accused, but since then he had seen, accused a, » few times, and was now prepared *o swear thati it was ho who had been given iJie cheque. Tile shop assistants, who cashed the cheques, also identified the accused, oiw of them, Charles Reginald Goodwin, stating that lie had asked accused if he was a "Tapp." The accused had replied that his name was Ros.i, in which name the cheque- '■■ ''"'im, and added that ho \va* working for Young at Manaia.

At this stage the case was adjourned until 10.30 this morning.