People v. Kennedy

Defendant was convicted in a nonjury trial of uttering and publishing contrary to MCLA § 750.249 (Stat Ann 1962 Rev § 28.446) and was sentenced to serve 5 to 14 years in prison.

At the trial, it was defendant’s position that he was never inside the bar of the complaining witness and that he never forged the name of “Robert T. Lee” on the back of a stolen check to induce the complaining witness to cash it. Since defendant was an indigent, the court, at his request, appointed a handwriting expert to testify on his behalf. Defense counsel submitted a number of samples to the expert witness, James…