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LAW AND POLICE COURTS.
POLICE COMMISSIONER'S COURT.
Monday, 3d August.
William James John Watts Splatt was brought before bis
Worsnip oh his remand, charged with uttering forged orders
with intent to defraud Oscar John Lines and others.
William James Hardman examined, stated he. was Cashier
at the Bank of South Australia. He might have seen the
prisoner before but did not know him. He received the
eheque produced from Mr Lines which he paid. The drawer,
John Watts, bad no account at the Bank of South'Australia.
The cheque Wa6 on the Bank of Australasia. The cheque
marked " B" was presented last Monday, by Mr Neale, of
the Dry Creek. It was not cashed. He (witness) returned
it to Mr Neale. It was drawu by James Piatt in favour of
Thomas Neale, tor <£19, bearing date July 27. Tbe cheque
marked "C" was presented by Mr Malcolm and paid. It
was afterwards sent to the Bank of Australasia, and re
turned, dishonoured. He then sent a nots to .Mr Malcolm
informing him of the circumstance. It bears the signature
of John Pratt, and was drawn in favour of Mr Malcolm,
for £3. Tbe cheque"D "bad nevei been in the possession
of the Bank of South Australia. It was drawn by William
Splatt in favour of George Watts for .£10.
By Mr Stephen—He psid the cheque marked " A'
because be knew Mr Lines. He d:d not know tbe other
party. He did not call that giving credit. He paid it on
Mr Lines's representation and security, because be knew he
could get the amount back from him. He did not pay the
cheque " B" because he knew it was a fraud. -He knew
this because tbe other had been dishonoured. The hand
writing was the same although in different names. His sus
picions were aroused by previous transactions and infer
rnation.be had received. The cheque "B" w aa nullify:
there was no such Bank as the "South Australian Bank."
He always paid a cheque drawn by "Jack," " Tom,"
" Hai ry," or any other person walking the streets so long
as he knew the person presenting it was respectable or
trustworthy.
William Mitchell McKenzie, Cashier at the Bank of Aus
ralasia, bad seen the clu que " A." It came through the
other Bank, (the Bank o( South Australia). It was not
paid, there being no such account. There was a person of
that name that had an account at the Bank " John Watts,"
but it was not in his hand writing. Cheque " B" be had
not seen before. He knew no such person as tbe drawer.
The cheque "C" he knew. It was presented at their
Bank but net paid. He could not say from whom he had
it, hut he thought from Mr Board, of Rundle-'strerf. It
was returned there being no such account. The cheque
" D" was also presented but dishonored, there being no
such name having an account at the Bank. He had'seen
the prisoner. He hud ni> account at tbe Batik. He did
not know his name. There was no such name as "William
James John Watts Splatt" having an account at the Bank
of Australasia.
By Mr Stephen The person who had an account at the |
Bank of Australasia by the name of Watts was Mr John ]
Watts the post-master. The signature was not at all like his j
He bed been in the colony ifpwards of six years. Me never j
heard of a person called "James Piatt," "John Pratt," or I
" William Splatt" . j
Thomas Neale, stated he was a publican on the Great i
Eastern Road. The prisoner gave bim the t facque " B " |
in payment for a horse. He culled ?t bis house a lew days ]
pievi jus and suited he was going.to M.r Randall's who was :
his first cousin. He stopped ail p'ght.. He (witness) had j
never seen bim before. He included his bill lor accommo
riation in tbe cheque. He had never beard his name before |
be gave him the cheqn -. He (witness) offered to give him
*u" receipt Tor the chtqiie "but' prisoner said that wasmine.
cessary as the cheque would be a receipt. He said he
would give bim (witness) a cheque upon the Australian!
bank which would be as good as cash to bim. He pre
serried the cheque at the Bank of South Australia, but it
was dishonored, and he gave it to Captain Litchfield.
By Mr Stephen.—He was able to read and Write. He
read the cheque " B" before he took it.. He considered at I
the time be received the cheque it was not all right, but j
having passed his word, he would not go from it. tie gave i
the horse tor the cheque, but he now returned the cheque !
and thought the horse was still his.
James Thompson, publican, Walkerville, saw the pri-;
soucr at his house last Sunday, week, ahout half past one
o'clock. He came on horseback. He stopped all night,:
and complained the horse was not stout enough for him, andI
wanted a larger animal. He offered to sell, witness the
horse, but he toid him he did i ot want it. Recommended ;
him to a person who whb about cowing to town, and wanted
such a horse. He left it, and also a small parcel, but did
not return.
By Mr Stephen—lie gave him no money on tbe borre, ■
neither did he make any bargain.
Alexander Malcolm examined—The prisoner slopped at
his house all night, and hud his breakfast. He said he was
going into (he count!y, end asked it he would give him
the difference for a cheque. Witness asked him if he had j
a cheque book, and be replied he fad. He 'then wrote
a cheque for £3. Tbe one produced was it. He gave him
the difference, and he then' left.' Tbe cheque wasjuesented
and dishonoured. He met Oscar Lines, and he told bim
where to find tbe prisoner." He (witness) subsequently re.
moved the cheque, and paid another in lieu of it. He then
found the prisoner at Balls, Hindmarsh,- Said something
must be wrong, as there were no funds, fie replied, it
could not be possible, as he had plenty of money there, but
asked him to stop a moment, us heiiad just sold a team of
bullocks, and he would pay bim; He did so, treated wit.
ness with a glass, and he left.
By Mr Stephen—He had not been victimised this time..
He heard tbe prisoner say he was independent.
"George Watts, butcher—Knew the cheque produced,
lie had received it from the ptisoner as ca6h borrowed, and
paid it to Mr Boord,-stockholder. It was returned to Mr
Baord, by the Bank, and he (witness) would have to repay
the money. Tt<e piisoner drew it ut his house. He had
ktiomi the prisoner some time,
By Mr Stephen—He had known the prisoner about three
niofchs. He had heard tbe prisoner was a little cracked.
-He bad not heard him " castle building," hut he had heard
him speak of his castle6 and estates.
Captain Litchfield—Received cheque " B," from Thomas
Neale, the 27th July, ult, and the cheque marked "C."
from Mr Malcolm that morning; the cheque marked " D"
from Mrs Watts, the 27th. July.
Poiice-consteble Barnes took the prisoner to the Station
house. He gave his name William Splatt.
Mr Stephen would observe, that in bis cross,
examination, be bad effectually broken down any charge of
' forgery. "Mr McKenzie must have been aware who bad,
and who bad nol accounts at the Bank. John Watte the.
Postmaster-General, was -the only person who had an ae.
-count at the Bank of that name, and the prisoner's handwri
ting did not resemble that gentleman'6, He bad no doubt
the prisoner had given the cheques produced, but he went
under various names, all which names belonged to him. It
would be Folly for him tocOntend that there was not suffi
cient evidence to support an indictment at- the ensuing
sessions, but ctrcumstam-es would transpire before a jury,
which must inevitably acquit' bim from the charge of for
gery ; and undei tbat-circuuistunoe, and the sessions being
so near at hand, he would request his. Worship to admit
him to ball. ' „ -
His Worship was of ^opinion, that his having assumed a
false name, was sufficient to constitute the Forgery; and
as there were so many other charges against him, he must
leave all argument on the subject to the Supreme Oourt, to
be there decided hy a jury, and committed the prisoner
forrhwith,
diaries'Owen was charged with breaking into the spirit
room of the schooner Lightning, and stealing, one bottle of
arrack, value one shilling.
Robert Cook, was steward on board the vessel. The pri
soner was second mate. Sunday night, when in bed, ke heard
a noise in the 'store. He looked through tbe bulk bead and
hollowed out. The globe lamp which was burning in his
(witness's) cabin when be went to bed, bud been removed
iuto the stoie. He said, " You scoundrel, are you ther< 1"
He (pris ner) hollowed but, " Don't cull me a scoundrel."
He (witness) attervrards s >w him draw liom the spirit cask
tbe quantity produced in the bottle. The Captain's brother
in-law reprimanded him, telling him he could have as much
as he liked from the cabin, without going in. there. Pri
soner then struck the boy (Captain's brother-in-law), and
he (witness) pushed him away. When he (witness) went
to bed, -he heard -the prisoner stow away the bottle in his
chest. The prisoner's cabin was searched without finding
anything. After what had occurred, be said, "Cook,nre
you asleep ?" He (witness) did notreply. Tbe prisoner
tbeu took the buttle irom his box, and drank seme of the
liquor. He sat down on his chest, and said he was astonished
af witness's behaving in such a manner, after the friendship
which had existed between them. Tbe bottle contained
a: rack, a sp rit which is served out to the sailors. Ho duty
had been g id on it, and it was therefore only worth a shil
ling. It Was ship's stores, and belonged' to Messrs Butice
and Thomson, the owners. Tup master's name was
Robeit&on.
William Kemp, stated 'he was a seaman on board the
Lightning, and brother-in-law to the master. He was called
by last witness, about ten o'clock. He went down into
ihe cibin off the after-deck, and saw the prisoner trying to
lusten the dcor of the store room, the staple being drawn.
He asked him what business he had to draw the staple at
that hour of the night, anil he replied, he had better mind
his own business, and struck bim on the face. Thomas
NichoLlstben came down, and whilst be was overhauling
tbe store-room', prisoner struck him again. The prisoner
had no business in the store-room.
By prisoner—He ouu d nut say he drew the staple.
Thomas Nicholls, steward ot the Lightning, was going to
bid on fc-unday evening, but on hearing a nojse went back.
He found prisoner striking the boy Kemp. Kemp said tbe
prisoner had been in the store room drawing off spirits He
found the staple of the door had been drawn and the tip
was -in th- cask. Prisoner said he had drawn off spirits,
end also that he had got the key in the tap and could not
get it out. He (Witness) secured the door before he went
ti) bed The bottle of" spirits was found in one of the pas
stngiTs' trunks.
By Prisoner.—He drove the staple rn ubout ten o'clock
or a Jittle after. Tbe Staple was out when he came home.
Prisoner 6tated he'lftd never been stinted of grog whilst
on. board. On Sunday evening, when be went oh hoard,
the pantry was locked. ;He ueiitto the store room know
jog the strpfe had been drawn, and went to the cask and
drew some spirit thinking himself the party having autho
rity to do so (the thought fit. He had been told he could !
take grog whenever he required it. He did not draw the
sfaple; it was out whep-be went to the door; it w*s gene
rally the Becoiid officer's duly to serye out the stores.'
by Prisoner.—He told the mate he was going on shore.
He sent the keys down by one of the port curt men when
he Found he bad brought them away with them.
On examination by his Worship.—The steward elated
the captain and mate were not on board that night."
His Worship could liqt see tbat what the prisoner had
stated was any justification of tbe offence. He bad taken
advantage of e cry one being in bed to go into tbe store
room and remove tbe spirit away in a bottle. His conduct
was very improper, tint he'did not think a felony could be !
supported. He was therefore discharged.
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