THEFT AND FORGERY.

Waipa Post, Volume XXI, Issue 1280, 12 August 1922, Page 5

THEFT AND FORGERY.

YOUNG MAN’S DEALINGS WITH

CHEQUES.

COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE.

»' At the Magistrate’s Court, Te AwajnjKtu, on Thursday last, Charles WilIflF Wahle, a.bout 19 years of age wa.s clrarged (1) with the theft of a cheque for £9 19s 6d, drawn by 'the Farmers’ Co-operative Auctioneering Company, Hamilton, in favour of Gilbert Baird, farmer, of Te Rapa; (2) with forging the endorsement of the said Gilbert Baird to the said cheque; and' (3) with forging the name of J. C. Wallace

to a cheque for £lB 7s 6d on the Bank of 'New Zealand. 'Hamilton, and causing the same to be acted upon by L. D. Kemp, of Ohaupo, as though it were genuine. * » Messrs H. R. Ryder and S. H. Dunk ley presided on the Bench, and Constable P. J. iDoyle prosecuted. The evidence showed that the accused had been employed by Gilbert Baird, farmer, of Te Rapa, but disappeared at about 6 a.m. on 20th July. Thereafter Baird found that a cheque for £9 19s 6d sent him by the Farmers’ Auctioneering Company, of Hamilton, was missing. Hater in the day accused went to the store of the Farmers’ 'Co-operative Auctioneering Company at Ohaupo and

purchased a suit of 'clothes, a pair of of hoots, and some socks, of a total , value of £8 7s 6d. There he asked'for v a pen and ink, and took from his pocket cheque on the Bank of New Zealand, which he hl’led in for £lB 7s 6d and signed “ J. 'C. Wallace.” The cheque was tendered to the manager (L. D. Kemp), to whom accused said he had had dealings with the Hamilton 'branch of the firm. Kemp went to ring up Hamilton to inquire about the cheque, but on his return to the counter accused had. disappeared. He did not take away all the goods with 'which he had been supplied, taking only a pair of socks. Accused apparently then came to Te Awamutu, for his next escapade was to visit Armstrong’s shop and buy a pair trousers, in payment of which he tendered the Farmers’ Auctioneering .Company’s cheque, which he duly endorsed “G. Baird.” By this time the police were on his track, and when the deal was completed Constable Sutton effected his arrest.

Accused, who asked no questions of the various witnesses, pleaded guilty to all the charges* and was committed to the 'Supreme Court at Hamilton for sentence.