FORGER? ALLEGED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 23, 28 January 1938, Page 6

FORGER? ALLEGED

LABOURER FOR TRIAL Charged that on April 13. 1933, at Wanganui knowing a cheque for £4O to be forged he did cause Leslie Jury to act upon it as if it were genuine and with forging the cheque, Granville Joseph Workman, labourer, appeared before Messrs. W. Bruce and C. H. E. Rhodes, J.’sP., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Accused pleaded not guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Hubert B. Francis stated that in 1933 he managed the Matemate station at Ngamatapouri. The station account was kept at the Union Bank of Australia, Wanganui. His attention was drawn to a cheque for £4O, which had been drawn on the account and cashed at the bank on April 19, 1933. It was made payable to H. B Francis and bore the station stamp and purported to be signed by witness. The signature was not that of witness. Accused had been employed by witness some years ago and left about March, 1933. Me practically had the run of the house at the station and had every opportunity of knowing where the cheque book was kept. A cheque produced had been taken from near the back of the hook. Witness considered the writing on the cheque was that of accused. To Mr. Willis: Generally speaking he would give accused a good character as a hard worker. Leslie William Jury, mercer, Tauranga, said in April, 1933, he was employed as assistant at McGruer’s Wanganui. On April 13 certain articles were purchased by a customer from witness and a cheque tendered for £4O. Frederick L. Cullan, accountant, Union Bank of Australia, stated that the cheque was a forgery. This was not noticed for some time after until the Matemate account got their pass book. Constable John Rogers. Brunnerton

said on January 16 accused called at the Police Station and told witness that his name was not Watson, but Workman, and that he had forged a cheque for f4O at. Wanganui in 1933 in the name of Francis and that he had cashed it at McGruer’s. He paid for clothing, and received the balance