United States v. James H. Gilbert

On overwhelming evidence, appellant was convicted of six counts of forgery and uttering in violation of 22 D.C.Code § 1401 (1967). The only point raised on appeal is that the trial court refused on request to charge the jury that the United States had the burden of proving be yond a reasonable doubt that appellant was without authority from Charles W. Bailey in signing his name to the Sears, Roebuck & Company charge slips.

The Government apparently concedes that when, as here, a defendant is charged with forging the name of a real or existing person, lack of authority is an essential part of…