CHRISTCHUROH. This Day.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3580, 1 October 1879, Page 2

CHRISTCHUROH. This Day.

(Before G. L. Mollish, Esq., R.M.)

Fokoino and Uttering.— James Hamilton was charged with forging and uttering a promissory noto for the payment of £37. Ib lOd. Prisoner had been arrested on a warrant. Mr R. D. Thomaß appeared for the defence, and said he thought the whole thing arose out of a mistake. It seemed that on tho previous day the person named on the back of tho bill, Thomas Milner, Styx, .had been shown the document supposed: to boa forgery, and on being asked had said that tho endorsement was not his. Ho and Hamilton had been in partnership, and Milner not being able to Bign his name, Hamilton had over and over again signed for him by his authority. Milner would now be put in the box, and he would depose that ho gavo Hamilton distinct authority to put his name on the document now produced. Of course the police in taking action had not been aware of the circumstances of tbo case.. Thomaß Milner deposed that he had been carrying on a partnership with the accused, and tbat he gave permission for his name to be written by accused on the document produced. Inspector Hickson explained how the police had beon led to take action. The witness had been shown the documont produced* and asked if the signature was his. He replied in the negative, adding that he was unable to write. Tho witness now explained that when he was asked tho question ho did not know what the document was, or he would of course have explained the matter. The case was at once dismissed.