FORGERY ADMITTED.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 May 1924, Page 6

FORGERY ADMITTED.

VAUDEVILLE ARTIST’S ACT.

COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE. Described as a vaudeville artist, John Raymond Bane was, at yesterday’s sitting of the Magistrate’s Court at New Plymouth, committed to the Supreme Court for sentence on a charge of forging the name of John Henry Willetts for the purpose of obtaining the sum of 255. When before the court in Auckland Bane admitted signing ‘Willett’s name without the latter’s permission.

Mr. A. M. Mowlem, S.M. was on the bench anS Detective-Sergeant Cooney appeared for the police. The accused was not represented by counsel. From the evidence it appeared that. Willetts became acquainted with the accused when they were employed in the same circus. Later they met in New Plymouth and Waitara, where Bane gave Willetts 10s to go out to Lepperton and make arrangements for a show which accused intended giving there. After Willetts’ visit to Lepperton he returned to New Plymouth, where he was again met by Bane. In a conversation in the library, Bane informed Willetts that through some trouble at Lepperton the police were after Willetts- This incident, the accused contended, had made it impossible for him to Hold his entertainment at Lepperton, and had practically made him bankrupt.

Willetts assured the accused that he had caused no trouble at Lepperton and ■he was sorry that the entertainment could not be held. During the conversation Willetts, it we? stated, told Bane that he had wired to AVaimate for 255. Bane was then of the opinion that the 25s should he given to him in the event of the police arresting Willetts. Willetts gave no definite answer, bijt told the accused he could collect a letter at Auckland for him. and gave Bane a card on which was printed Willetts’ name, the card purporting the possessor to be the representative of.a travelling circus. Bane, who had previously, announced his intention of going to Auckland, sailed the same night.

The postmaster at New ‘Plymouth (Mr. H. Bree). according to evidence, then received a notice from Auckland asking that all letters, mopey-orders or telegrams arriving at New Plymouth for Willetts be forwarded to Auckland. The notice was signed “J. Willetts.” The postmaster’s suspicions were aroused, with the result that steps were taken which led to Bane’s arrest.

In answer to the charge. accused at first pleaded not guilty, but was later allowed to alter his plea to guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence-