FORGERY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3671, 5 November 1912, Page 6

FORGERY.

A YOUNG MAN’S LAPSE

COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE

At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before Mr W.S&.. Barton, S.M., a young man named Wilfred Augustus Hicks was charged with having forged a cheque on the National Bank, valued at £ls. Harry Percy Smallbone, manager ot tbe National Bank, said that, on Thursday, October 31, accused came to him lor a cheque-book, stating that he had an account in the Auckland branch. Be gave his name as F. D. Johnston, stating that he had left his cheque-book ©ehmd and' was going to join Mr P. Ux Andrew in business. Witness questioned him as to his bona fides and agreed to let him have one clieque-form. The form produced was the one he gave to accused. Returning in the afternoon accused said he had broken off the tngagemont with Mr Andrews and was "ofng to start in business on his own account, in Redstone’s Buildings, and would probably get Messrs \V right, Stephenson and Co.’s agency. He had written, he said, to Auckland, to have his account transferred. At 4 p.m. he again returned and asked to have -he cheque endorsed and witness declined, also refusing to cash it. Accused agreed to allow witness to telegraph to Auckland and see if the name was right, and said he would return in the morning. He telegraphed Auckland and got a itplv. “J. D. Johnston no account.’ Later the same evening Mr J. F. Pettie rung him up. The endorsement on the cheque was not his. The next he saw of accused was at the Police Station on Saturday. , „ , r J. F. Pettie, licensee of the Masonic Hotel, said that accused handed witness the cheque produced and asked him to cash it. Witness refused, as it was not usual to cash a cheque on Auckland. Accused said he expected to commence in business on the following Monday, and. on being asked, said he would get the banker to endorse the cheque. Ten minutes later, he came back and said the cheque was endorsed. He gave accused 15 sovereigns and accused went away. Next morning he saw accused on board the Tuatea. but did not recognise him immediately. Reginald S. Caulton. licensee of the Coronation Hotel-, said that at 4 p.m. on the Ist inst. a young man came to. his hotel with the cheque produced. Witness said he could not cash the cheque, as it was on an Auckland bank and witness did not know the signature. The man was similar to accused. Percy George Andrew, estate agent, said lie knew accused, having met him on two occasions at a boardinghouse in Auckland. In June last he knew him as Hicks, a clerk working at Kempthorne Prosser’s, Auckland. On Thursday morning last he met accused at the Post Office. Accused, at the Gisborne races, asked witness for £1 to put on a horse. Accused did not enter into anv business engagement with witness. Nolan A. Redstone, livery stable keeper, said that on Friday, November 1, accused came to him about offices and witness showed him the rooms. Accused said they were suitable and made an appointment to see Mr Redstone, sen., the next day. Accused said he was going to start as a seed merchant. Constable Moore said that at 12.15 p.m. on Saturday last, he arrested accused on board tlie steamer Tarawera, and, on hearing the charge, accused answered "yes.” Accused had £l3 11s lid in his possession, £1 11s lid on his person. and 12 sovereigns in a pocket-hook in his trunk. He also had a saloon ticket, hearing the name of "W. G. Hicks.” Accused confessed the forgery the same afternoon. Accused said he had £2B in his pocket when he left Auckland a fortnight ago, and lost it all in card playing on the way down. He tried to get work m Gisborne but failed. He received £2 by telegraph from a brother and paid his board with part of that amount. Accused confessed the whole affair, stating that he intended to have the money refunded to Mr Pettie. This was the first time he had appeared before a Court and references in bis possession would testify to his honesty. Accused ©leaded guilty and was committed to Auckland for sentence.