FORGERY ALLEGED

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1639, 9 May 1925, Page 5

FORGERY ALLEGED

POSTAL OFFICER CHARGED.

(By Telegraph. Press Association.) ■ u ' TIMARU, Friday. James Murray, an ex-postal officia 1 , was charged at the Supreme Court, before Judge Adams, with having forged the signature of J. R. McDonald, farm labourer, of Albury, to a Post Office Savings Bank withdrawal form, by which accused withdrew £2OO from McDonald’s account and converted it to his own use. Accused put forward an elaborate defence. He said McDonald had himself signed the withdrawal form and had lent him the £2OO. Having failed to get the -money repaid by accused, McDonald (said Murray) was now charging him with having forged his signature, so that he could recover the money from the Postal Department. There was no ehtry in McDonald’s pass book showing withdrawal of the money, and accused accounted for this by saying that McDonald had not his pass book with him when he signed the withdrawal form. McDonald denied emphatically accused’s statements, and said he had never given authority to anyone to withdraw his money. Considerable evidence was heard, the case lasting two full days. The jury, after four hours’ retirement, disagreed, and a new trial was ordered for the August sessions.