NICHOLIS FOUND GUILTY

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 20011, 14 February 1914, Page 7

NICHOLIS FOUND GUILTY.

LENIENCY RECOMMENDED. TO BE SENTENCED ON MONDAY. The Supreme Court was occupied for a time yesterday morning in hearing the conclusion of the case, Rex v. J. H. _\icholls, on the charge of forgery. Mr Marshall addressed the Court and jury, putting before them his side of tihe case to some length. A few minutes before noon Mr Marshall concluded his address. His Honour made but few remarks.' He thought that the jury would have very little difficulty in deciding that there Avas no such person as "John Gibson." The letters from him must have been written by someone who knew something about the business conducted by Nrcholls. For obvious reasons Meyer was not the author. Who, then, did write them ? That was for them to- decide. Also, they must decide as to who was to benefit by the transfer of the two businesses to (the supposed loan "Gibson." There were two totally different stones of the whole matter, those of Meyer or Nicholls, but if they acquitted the prisoner it was no proof that Meyer had not told the truth; rather that they did not know which, to believe of the two parties. He must say, however, that Meyor had given his evidence in a most satisfactory manner. The jury then retired to consider their verdict. A 3 p.m. the jury, which had adjourned for a space for luncheon, returned to question his Honour as to the identity of various letters handed in during the case, whether they were .written by the accused or not. At 4.10 the jury announced that it had agreed., and returned a verdict of guilty. His Honour was asked to treat tbe prisoner as leniently as possible on account of his previous good character, and the fact that he had so little to gain from the transaction. His Honour said he would take the juiy's recommendation into consideration, and ordered! that the prisoner be brought up for sentence on Monday morning.