DISSIPATED MOST OF YOUNG MAN'S FORTUNE

Chronicle (Levin), 8 May 1946, Page 7

DISSIPATED MOST OF YOUNG MAN'S FORTUNE

-Press Associatioii

By Telearavh-

AUCKLAND, May 7. The trial of Harrv Percy Ellis, aged 75, pcnsioner, on eight chafges of frauduleutlv converting £2900 to his ihvii use, was eoncluded before Mr. Justice Callan and resulted in a convictiou. The Crown, for which Mr. G. It. S. Meredith appeared, alleged that in May. j ] 944, just before Robert Glenmarh Fryett, no w aged 23, went overseaS, aecused ohtained from him a comprehensivc power of attorney and that he used this to dissipate Fryett 's assets to the exteut of £2900, Fryett had received a legacy of £4000 wlien he attain- ! ed the agc oi' 21. Aecused' conducted j his own defence. A reproseutative of the" Social ) Securitv Departnient, William Pyett ! Johnston, gave evidence that aecused had been in receipt of an old nge peu- ! sion, 110 w aniouiiting to £104 a year, I since Deeemliei', 1939. Eacli year since | then he had declared his income as nil. j j ftenior-Detective Aplin said that wlienj accosted on March 26, aecused said he ; could explain evervthing and get tliei ino no y back for Fryett. He said hej had bouglit u farm worth £3000 for J ; Fryett. j At the close of the Crown case ac-: ■ eused was graiited an adjournnient to ; ! prepare an address to the jury. Bpeak- j ! ing from the dock he clainied to liavej j done a*great deal for Mrs. Fryett,: coinplainant 's motlier. "I admit li ' took that nioney out," Iiq .said, " but | j 1 tliought I was doing the boy a good, tuni, i know I can get it ba(:k.."... i I His Ilonour said if the jury came. to 'ihe conciusiou that aecused had •been , lying, to them in the long speech he had made, then the conciusiou was per-j fectly clear that he was lying becausej lie had somethiug to liide. lf thev.c.on-i victed aecused he sliould be fouud j guilly on the alternative charges of i theft. The jury, after a retirement of three-i i ((iiarlers of an •liour. found .. aecused i j guilty on all eiglit couuts of theft. The; jury added a rider. that " we view with! ahirni the. easv jnanner in .which the j powcr of attorney was granted to.su-- j eused, wilhout udequuto warniug being.j givcn to Robert Gleiunark -Fryett byj his legal advisers. ;; Aecused was reiuanded for scuteuce. i