CHARGE OF FALSE PRETENCES.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11499, 4 February 1903, Page 5

CHARGE OF FALSE PRETENCES.

PECULIAR EVIDENCE BY THE ACCUSED. (SPECIAL TO "THE TEESS.")

WELLINGTON, February 3.

At the Supreme Court to-day, the case of William Runciman was gone on with. He was charged under two separate counts with obtaining money under false pretences at Maeterton. The evidence for the prosecution was to the effect that accused cashed cheque.", although correspondence with, his bankers indicated that his account was not sufficiently in credit to meet the cheques; that he also represented that he had bten appointed to a position in the Defence Department at £260 a year, and that he showed a paragraph in the "New Zealand Herald" indicating that such was, or was likely to be, the case.

The record clerk of the Defence Departmem stated that accused had not received the appointment, and had not been offered it oflieially. A clerk of the Union Bank deposed as to the correspondence and the etate of the accused's account, and denied that tiio bank had any recoid of the manager having received from accused a, certain letter with, an enclosure.

Accused t'cpcsed that he was an officer in the Royal Dragoons from 14th September. 1875," to 1886. and in 1886 he went into the Egyptian Army, retiring from the Dragoons on a gratuity- Remained ir. the ■ Egypt ion Army till 1899. in July la-st hu came to New Zealand with money, liis invention being to take up land, or failing that to get employment under the Government. He brought letters of introduction to the Premier (Mr Seddon), and to Bishop Wallfc. Mr Hindmaish •. You presented the letters and did see Mr Seddon? Accused said lie saw Mr Seddon on hus arrival in Auckland from the Coronation celebrations. Accused attended-the reception banquet. He sent hie card to Mr Seddon. and was received. He recalled to Mr Seddon that they ihcfc at the Hote Cecil during the Premier's former trip Home in 1897, and Mr Seddon appeared to remember. Mr Seddon asked what brought accursed to New Zealand, and accused said he was anxious to obtain Government employment. He received no definite promise from Mr Seddqn, w'hosaid he was busy, and would continue to be busy during his few daye , stay in Auckland. On the Bth NovetrJber accused told the manager of the Union Bank that some cheques were out, but that they would be paid in during the following week. The manager said that would be all ritfht. On Monday, 10th November, accused saw a paragraph in the "Herald" to the effect that Major Runciman had been, or was likely to be, appointed to the Defence Department. Accused left Auckland, but before going wrote to the manager of the Union Bank. lhe enclosure, concerning which the bank clerk had been questioned, and which accused sent in the letter to the manager of the Union Bank, was from Arthur Dixcn Gi'eenway, who bore an honoured name in Birmingham, and to whom accused had lent £200, The wording was to the following effect:—"Dear Runciman, — I have wired to your account at the Union Bank the sum of £200." Accused absolutely believed that Greenway had done as stated in this note, and that accused's account was in a good position. Accused told PownalLand Dignan that he bad hopes of getting the Defence Department billet; not that he had got it. Mr Bell (Crown Prosecutor): Were you engaged to bo married at Oamaru? Accused: No. . Mr Bell: Did you at Ashburton get cheques cashed on the iepresentation that you were staying with his Excellency tae Governor? Accused: No.. He ai*o denied having signed Captain Alexander's name to the cheque. In the Ist Royal Dragoons tie was Captain and Brevet-Major. Mr Bell.- So your name would be in the Army list up to 1886? You have there? Accused: Yes. Mr Belli. An Rur.efman? Accused: No. My father changed his name. L wae a legitimate- transaction, and can be traced. Mr Bell: What was your r-ame? > Accused: I dechr.e to state. H:s Honour jointed out that the jury would draw the worst possible inference from this refusal. Accrued: it J* no use dragging the name of others' into the mire. My name wsw Burns, William Robert Charles. Mr Bell; Then I vriU find tfiat name in the Army list up to 1596, and you are that man? Accused: Yes. He tool, part as a Major o? the 22nd Soudanese in the expedition and battle of Omdurinao Questioned further as to his ground* for expecting the appointment, accused said ha had correspondence from Bishop Walla. It was in h:# trunk at Auckland. Mr Bell: Surely Bishop Waibs ha* not much to do with the appointments to tae Defence Department? Accu«ei: Xo He lad also received correspondence from a iacly. Mr Bell-• Sue could not riav«? much to do with the Defence Department either? Accused: .Very JittJe. Sir. j Mr Bel! (referring to the correspondence i with Bishop WallteJ; This would be an appointment in the Church militant? Accused: Not lit. nil. '.. The Bishop was good enough If use his, good ofSoee for me. Mr Bell: You know the Bishop is away ? , , Accused: I am sorry to say that lie is Mr Bell: That, may be unfortunate for you or fortunate Accused added that he had not the remotest idea how the paragraph got in the "Herald." Mr Bell: You did rot yourself make the •sucsrestion to a reporter? Accused: Certainly not. ;■' Mr Bell asked if Mesiri" Powna.ll and Dignan. in swearing that accused had told them that he actually had the appointment, were swearing what was not true. Accused: They are inaccurate. Accused denied that- he had issued cheques that were dishonoured in Taranaki, Ashburton, or Oamaru. Accused had lent the money to Greenway in New Zealand, and received Green way V bill. Greenway met accused in Wellington, said he w;is sorry he could not take up the bill, and promised to pay the £200 into accused's account. Accused then letv Greenway have the bill on that understanding, but had r;hown the bill to the manager of the Union Bank on Bth November. , Mr Bell asked why nothing was said of this £200 before the triaf. Accused said he would give particulars of the transaction to any police officer the Court might .designate. After a retirement of «n hour and forty minutes the jury brought in a" verdict of '•Guilty. , ' apd accused was remanded for sentence in order that the Probation Officer may report.