CAR DRIVER CHARGED

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 78, Issue 7017, 9 February 1949, Page 6

CAR DRIVER CHARGED

ALLEGED THEFT AND FORGERY POSTAL PACKET INVOLVED Mr Justice Hutchison and a jury of 12 were occupied late on Monday afternoon in the Supreme Court at Hamilton hearing fo.ur charges prepared against Robert John Cook, aged 27, married, a car driver, of Te Awamutu. He was represented by Mr P. M. Page. Mr J. F. Strang appeared for the Crown. The charges, alleged theft of a postal packet, between Te Awamutu and Parawera on or about June 16th, 1948. The charges were denied, as also were two similar charges relating to another registered postal packet on or about June 17th, 1948. At that time accused was a postal officer. The packets were the property of the Post-master-General and had been addressed to M. Chunilal. The forgery charges alleged concerned the signature for receipt of the packet by Chunilal, storekeeper at Parawera. The first witness for the Crown was Nathu Hanji, a Hindu fruiterer, Ellerslie, who said he had arranged to send £3OO to Chunilal to buy a new truck about the end of May. He sent £2OO on June 2nd, 1948, in four £5O notes and told Chunilal he would send the other £lOO later. The £2OO was placed by his son in the envelope in witness’ presence. The son addressed the envelope and registered it. Witness said that on June 15th he sent another £lOO, in two £5O notes. Again the son put the notes in the envelope and sealed if in witness’ presence. The son posted both letters, registering them. The son wrote the numbers of the notes in the letter. He kept no other record of the numbers. Later he asked the bank for a record of the numbers but was told they were not kept. Chunilal had denied receiving the money. To Mr Page: Chunilal admitted receiving the first £2OO. Denied Receiving Letter Mudhav Cunilal, grocer, Parawera, denied receiving the registered letter sent by Nathu Hanji on June 15th, and the signature on the registered letter “M. Chunalal” was not his; he formed his letters differently and would not have mis-spelt his own name. Witness detailed a conversation with Cook, who had asked if witness lost two £5O notes in a registered letter. Witness told him he did not receive the notes or registered letter. To Mr Page: He clearly remembered receiving £2OO in a registered letter from Nathu. Now he thought Cook handed it to him in the shop at Parawera. His only help in the shop at the time was his wife. A little later he employed a Maori to help in the store and operate a newly installed petrol bowser. Re-examined, Chunilal said of the £2OO he paid Ebbett Motors two £5O notes as deposit on a truck. He gave Cook the signed receipt for the letter containing the £2OO. After the £lOO failed to arrive he wrote to Nathu saying he would be in Auckland and would take delivery of the £lOO then. The next witness, Mrs Bhiki Chunilal, who gave her evidence through an interpreter, Mr Parbhu Puna,* Frankton, said she knew her husband was borrowing £3OO from Nathu Hanji last year—£2oo was received.—Proceeding.