Magisterial.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 1475, 19 November 1872, Page 2

Magisterial.

CHRISTCHURCiI. (Before C. C. Bowcn, Esq., R.M.) Dbunk and Disobderly. — Jlary Welsfcecl, on remand from Monday, was again brought up. Evidence was given as to previous convictions at Kaiapoi and Christchuveh, and also to the effect that both prisoner and her husband had so thoroughly abandoned themselves to drink that their children were being neglected, and they were fast doing away with the proceeds of a farm recently sold. Application had been roade to the Judge to deal with both prisoner and her husband under the Lunacy Act, 1868, but it had failed, because there was not accommodation for them. His Worship said prisoner must, for her own sake, be broken off drink, and she would be sentenced to three months' imprisonment, with hard labour. Measures would also be taken to compel her husband to make suitable provision for the children. — Martha Jones, an old offender, but just out of gaol, after serving a long sentence, and arrested by Constable Hughes, was fined 20a. — Thomas M'Conkey, also arrested by Constable Hughes (first offence), was dismissed with a caution.

POBGERY AND UtTERIXG. — W. A. P. Smith was brought up on it charge of this nature. Mr Thomas appeared for (he defence. Detective I'easf, : From information received I searched fin- prisoner yesterday, and found him at the Mitre Hotel in Lyfcfcelton. I told him lie was charged with having forged and uttered a cheque for £60, purporting to bo signed by W. Stanhope. He said he wanted to speak to me quietly, and then lie wanted to see the cheque. Subsequently he denied all knowledge o£ the cheque. I did not show him the cheque at the time, but did afterwards. 1 produce the cheque, which is on the Bank of New South Wales, Clivistehurch. It has been presented at all the bauks in Christchurch, and returned, marked "No account." I received the cheque from a man named Sansdury yesterday. Sansflnvy also gave me the two letters produced. The first | letter purported to bo to prisoner, and was as j follows :— " Nov. 15, '72. — Dear Tom, I waited for you until half-past two, and could wait no. longer, co I enclose a cheque for £6o ; the other £10 1 will let you have next week, as lam rather hard pushed just now. I will send the bill of exchange home to your father, and ho will then send me ono payable to myself. It is very foolish of you to do other things when you ought to bo hero with me. There are not many that would give you a cheque for the amount, but let you 'rip; 1 but I forgive you this time, as you aro a young and inexperienced man, so now, good by. — Your affectionate cousin, WB. Stanhope." The second letter v.-i-siuldres3ed to prosecutor, and was as follows :— " Dear Hill, — I am sorry to have kept you waiting, but lam going to back a horse i\o\v, and I want you ;to come here by 11 o'clock at the latest, after which 1 will go to ca3h the cheque, and we will be off by Iho 12.30 train. The bearer will bring you up to rae. — Yours, Tom." When I arrested prisoner, he had a letter in his pocket. Ho took it out, and said, " I was writing to my friend Sansdury," and then tore the letter up. I produce tho pieces. [The pieces of the letter wore put together, but the letter was written in such a scribbling manner . that nothing could be made out of ■■ it except "Dear Sansdury, — Come up as soon as possible." I have made inquiries, and cannot find anyone of the name of Stanhope. I have inquired at the banks and those mercantile houses in tho city likely to know. William Sansdury : lam acarnenter. I reside at the Prince Alfred Boarding-house, Christchurch, but only arrived from the West Coast on Wednesday evening last. I came overland. Prisoner came on the coach to Christchurch from somewhere about Porter's Pass. I did not become intimate oa the way,

but when -we arrived I asked him if he knew of a good hotel, and he said yes. We went to one, but there was no accommodation, and we then went across to a boarding-house. He then said he had no money until he got a cheque cashed which his father had sent out to him, or -was going to send out. He asked me to lend him a few shillings, and I did so. I was going away in the Nevada, but I missed the boat, and was detained. On Friday afternoon, about five o'clock, he came in and said he had received the cheque all right from liis friends, and asked me, as the banks were closed, to lend him a few pounds on it. I lent him £4, and took the cheque as security. Tho cheque produced is the one he gave me. I only lent him tho money on the strength of the cheque, believing it to be a good one. I presented the cheque on Monday at the Bank of New South Wales, when they told mo there was no account. I then at once informed the police of the matter. Prisoner disappeared from the boarding-house on Saturday, and that made me doubtful of him. I saw him on the Saturday morning, when he said he was going to break-in some horses, and when he came back he would go with me to the bank. He did not come back, and I did not see him again until this morning. Prisoner gave me the first letter (placed in evidence) just before ho gave me the cheque on the Friday evening. He said he had received it from a relation — a cousin, who resided three miles and a half out of town. The second letter (placed in evidence) was given to me by a cabman on Saturday morning, who told me that prisoner gave it to him for me. In ac- j cordance with the request in the letter, I went j with the cabman to the Crown Hotel, but prisoner was not there. By Mr Thomas : The cheque now produced is in the same state as when I got it. The stamp was as now. The .cheque is not payable to anyone. I asked prisoner at the time why it was not made payablo to him, and he s lid it was made payable to bearer. I was sober when he gave mo the cheque. I swear prisoner was the man. Ho told mo his name was Thomas Smith. I did not ask him to put his name on the cheque ; neither did I write mine upon it. I never made any inquires aa to who Stanhope was. Tho Nevada was gone before I got tho cheque. I cannot swear it, but I think so. I was in company with prisoner on Friday night. We parted in the town at about 12 o'clock, but I don't know where. Edward Hill : I am clerk at the Bank of New South Wales. The cheque produced has been presented for payment, but it was returned endorsed " No account." There is not, nor has there been, any account in the name with which it is signed. There is no such name in the books. I never saw prisoner before. By Mr Thomas: I don't think the cheque would have been paid even if the signature had been right. The evidence having been read over, and the usual caution administered, prisoner declined to make any statement, and was formally committed to take his trial at the next session of the Supreme Court. [Left sitting.]