PROCEEDINGS AT THE MAGISTRATDE'S COURT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6282, 13 September 1898, Page 2

PROCEEDINGS AT THE MAGISTRATDE'S COURT.

COMMITTAL FOR TRIAL. Joseph P. Grossman,!, was .brought up at the Magistrate's Court this morning, before Mr R. Beetham, S.M., aud formally charged. Tho accused appeared to feel his position keenly. Mr Stringer ..appeared, for th_.Crown, and said that the facts were extremely simple, so he would not trouble his Worship with them, but would call evidence. Samuel Phillips deposed that he was a i"wellcr. carrying on business at Christ- ■ church, and was also ft.mo__ev lender. (The witness burst out crying at the bspinninc of his ev _en_e.) H. at last, sa.'d he 'knew the accur_rl, who. on July .21, 1897. borrowed .ome money from him, the sum of £300. der- .sit in . as . ■> .urity tb_ scrip of thirty shares in the Mount Lyell Companv in the nam? of T. S. Foster. On Au'nist, 20. 1897, li. borrowed a further sum of £200. denosit.l. «<.!T> for twentv-two shares in the Mount Tvel! Co'f . any. also in the name of T. S. Foster. The next occ .ion __ which he borrowed money was Sept. 9, 1897, when £ .00 v. .s fiireri. and the accused deposited fr-rtv ATo.i,'nt Lvell shares. On April 22, 1898, the aocus-d borrowed £500, depositing serin representing fiftv shares in the Mount Lyell Company. The serin was all in Foster's name. Prior to making the last advance, witness told Grossmann that he would require to have some security for .e money in case the shares went down. He said he would bring ail advance note of £1450 giv.n bv Mr Foster, find endorsed to Phillips bv Grossmann. Accused told witness that he was acting as agent for Mr Foster, and that the money was for him. Witness received a letter (produced) prior to making the _>st advance. Grossmann told witness that Mr Foster wns a schoolmaster, he thought, on the East Belt. Mr Foster lately sent him a vrit for recovery of the scrip, and he (witI,|KC ) had been compelled to hand them over Witness had seen Grossmann since, when he told him that the signature in the promisory note was a forgerv. Thomas Scholfield Fostpr said that he was the head -master of the West Christchurch school. He knew the accused, who had obtained from him at various times serin representing 142 shares in the Mount Lvell Company. Witness had since recovered the serin. Mr Stringer : Had the accused anv authority on your account to borrow money? Witness : None. Mr Stringer : Or to sign your name? Witness: No authority whatever. That was not witnesses', signature on the promis.orv note. Mr Strinsrer : Has the accused spoken to you with reference to your name appearin. on the note? Witness : Yes. On Friday. June 22 last, he confessed to me that he' had forged mv name. This closed the case for the prosecution. The customary caution was read out to ths accifsed, who reserved his defence. His Worship committed the accused for trial at the next sittings of the Supreme Court. Mr Russell, in asking for bail to be fixed, drew attention to the fact that the accused, who had for the last six weeks known that nroceedings were impending against him, had not made any attempt to get away, although he had the opportunity. , His Worship fixed hail at two sureties of £300 each, and the accused's own recognisance in the sum of £600. The bail was forthcoming at 1 p.m. this ( afternoon. | . ===== !: