THE GALLANT "MAJOR."

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 7349, 31 December 1902, Page 3

THE GALLANT "MAJOR."

And His Cheques.

Committed for Trial.

A tall, florid, middlo-agod man, namod "William Kunciman, was charged at the Wellington Magistrate's Court, yostorday morning (saya tho Post), with having obtained by moans of falso protoncos, with intent to defraud, £1 from H. W. Pownail and £8 from F. J. Dignan, on 4th December and sth Docoinbor, rospoctivoly, at Mastorton. Tho two charges wero hoard togothor. Accused was arrested at Tiumru on warrant from Mastorton, Sub-Inspector O'Donovan prosocutod and Mr Hiudmarsh dofondod.

H. W. Pownall, liconsco of a Masterton hotel at which accusod stayod, doposed thn,t accused said he was an otiicor of His Majesty's Dragoons, and had just como from Khartoum, where ho had boon through tho Soudan war with Kitchener. Accused also said ho had just como down from Auckland. Acoused showed witness a nowspapcr paragraph stating that Major Runciman had been appointed to tho cbargo of tho Defence Stores, Wellington. Accusod said ho was Major Runciinan, had got tho billet, and would have to go to Wellington, noxt morning. Accusod pjavo witness a cheque for J£2 Is on tho Union Bank at Auckland, and witness cushod it and gave accused £2, on tho sfcrougth of accusod's representation that witnoss had got a billet worth £850 a year, and on the presumption that acousod had a bank account to moot tho chequo at any tiino;. : The chequo was dishonoured. F. J. Dignan, manager of the Bank of Now Zealand at Mastorton, deposed that accusod said he was to take a position in charge of military stores in Wellington in place of Colonel Porter, who had taken tho plnco of Sir Arthur Douglas, who was absont in England. At accused's request, witness cashed his chequo for £3 on tho Union Bank at Auckland. It was subsequently dishonoured. Beforo witness cashed tho chequo, accused asked for advise as to how to transfer his funds from the Army agents at Home to New Zealand, and witness advised him to transfer through his bank (tho Union Bank) to its Wellington branch. Cross-examined —Witness had supposed tho Union Bank at Auckland would have met the chequo. Know that thero was not fcimo for it to be mot out of wages accruing from accused's alleged new appointment. William M'Goldrick, record clork of tho Defence Department, deposed that tho accused had never applied to tho Dofonco Department for a position. Mr Hindmarsh.—Does Mr Soddon tell you all ? Witness. —If an application was made to Mr Seddon it would como to mo. Accused had not been promised a position as far as witnoss know—there was no record of it. No position at £350 a year was then vacant. William Frederick Macmurray, clerk in tho Union Bank at Auckland, deposed that accused's account was not sufficiently in credit to pay the cheques when presented. It was £60 in credit on 7th October. It was still 5s 4d in credit. Acoused reserved his defence and was committed for trial, bail being allowed in solf for £50 and ono surety (or two) of £50.