Turner v. State

Thompson, J., delivered the opinion of the Court. Vernon Turner, the appellant, was convicted of forgery and uttering by the Criminal Court of Baltimore, Judge Stuart F. Hamill presiding without a jury. He was sentenced to a term of four years under the jurisdiction of the Department of Correction. He contends that the evidence is insufficient to support the verdict.

Kathleen Galbrith, cashier at Hochschild Kohn Department Store in Baltimore, testified that on August 19, 1967, Turner, representing himself as Robert Davis and accompanied by another man, requested that she cash a check. The check was in the amount of $97, and was payable to Robert Davis; it purported to bear Davis’ endorsement and to be signed by Chandler V. Wynn as maker. Galbrith testified that she suspected something was wrong and called the store detective. The store detective testified that he saw Turner hand the check to Galbrith ; and he further testified that when he approached her desk Turner ran.

He was quickly captured with the help of another person. Chandler V. Wynn testified that some five days earlier someone had broken into his home and had stolen several items including some blank checks, which included the one in question. He testified that the check was not signed by him.