ALLEGED FORGERS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12856, 25 October 1912, Page 2

ALLEGED FORGERS.

SCHOOLBOY'S PECULIAR ACTION.

FORGING A SCHOOLMASTER'S NAME.

TEN-YEAR-OLD OFFENDER

COMMITTED FOR TRIAL

(By Our Travelling Renorter.) FEILDING.. October 24. A rather unusual case of forgery was heard at Feilding Magistrate's Court to-day, when a young man named Frederick NofFke, now of Ohakune. and formerly of Haleombe, was char fired with having forged a Fourth Standard certifieato in order to obtain permanent employment on the railways. Mr. Graham appeared for accused. Samuel Strachan stated Noffke was ?■ pupil of hfs at tho Halcombo school some'years ago. On the certifirato produced, tho signature for Standards 11. i and TIT. was his own; but for Standard ' IV. his name was on tho document, but i it wai not his writing, and it was imj possible, ho thought, for him to have handed the certificate in its present form. It would bo possible for someon? to wrongfully fill in the certificate and leavo it on his desk, and then for Xoffko to lift it. The certificate becomes j tho property of the pupil on passing Standard T., and as he passes each succeeding standard ho may bring the certificate back and have it filled in. Numbers of children fail to take their certificates to be filled in. NofFke was in th--> Fourth Standard. To Mr. Graham: Witness could not say whether or not the accused had \ passed tho Fourth Standard. If a pu- ; pil had passed the Fourth Standard he could, even after years, apply to the Education Board and get tho certificate. He remembered teaching Noffke, and had ho been asked ten years ago, ho ; would have given a testimonial of character. So far as he could remember, Noffko was- p, fair writer. The examination in 1902 was held on June 3rd. To tho Magistrate: If a pupil passed, ho was informed, as the whole school wero notified. If it was proved that Noffko was in tho Fifth Standard, he would swear he mu»st*have passed the Fourth. Frederick Campbell Fraser, clerk in charge of the Employment Department of the Railways, stated ho had received an application (produced). He found the filo unsatisfactory so far as the education certificate was concerned, the signature for the Fourth Standard appearing to be at variance with those for the other standards. He reported the matter to the police. After comparing Noffko's signature with the writing ou tEo certificate, he was of opinion that tho same man wrote both. To Mr. Graham: Witness could nob say whether tho forged signature was written recently or some time ago. ipov tho position applied for by Noffke, it WP.*. necessary to have a Third Standard certificate. A previous application was received from accused by tho Department, on. August 22, .1908. Further evidence was given by a cle> k formerly in the employment of the railway service, to the effect that Noffke applied in 1908 for employment as a iun?or service-man, but being over-ago ho was not appointed. The certificate now in question was tendered with the application ,on that occasion, a copy of it being on tho filo produced. Constable Andersen, of Ohakuno. stated that when he served the summons on Noffke, the latter asked what it wan all about. Witness then read che charge to him, whereupon Noffke said, "I can ensily answer that. I never forged any certificate. It was eiven to mo by Mr. Strachan when I was a, boy at school. I am Milling to answer any questions you like." * i Mr. Graham briefly addressed the l Court on behalf of acciised, and pointed out that there could be no motive in forging the certificate for a higher standard, especially in view of the fact that, , as was admitted by the prosecution, Noffko had actually passed the Fourch Standard, and could easily have obtained, a certificate from tho'head tcaelur of tho Haleombe School or tho Wajganui Education Board. He contended that tho police had not made out a case, and asked that tho charge be dismissed. ■> Tho Bench considered that a prima facie case had been made out. and committed accused for trial nt the next sitting of the Supreme Court at Palmerston North, bail being allowed in his own recognisance of £20 and cno other of £20, which was immediately forth- j coming. ' •