CHARGE OF CONSPIRACY

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 30, 5 February 1913, Page 8

CHARGE OF CONSPIRACY

TWO MEN BEFORE THE COURT. Allan Moody and Harold Bronson were charged in the Magistrate's Court to-day, before Mr W. G. Riddell, S.M., that 'on 27th January, at Wellington, they did conspire together nnd each with the other by deceit to defraud George Carson of the sum of £4. Mr. H. F. O'Leary appeared for the accused. Chief-Detective Broberg prosecuted. .George Carson said he was a gardener, and lived at Auckland. On Monday, 27th January, he was a passenger on the s.s. Mokoia from Dunedin to Auckland. The vessel i\as lying at the Queen's Wharf, Wellington, and at 3.30 y.m. he was on board waiting for itvto sail. Moody asked witness if he was in charge of the sheep on beard. Witness said -"no." Moody said he was going as a passenger to Auckland. Bronson then came 'along, and said he was going to Auckland. Bron&on asked witness his name, and remarked : "You are not long from the Old Country." Witness said he had only been out four and a-half years. Bronson asked him and Moody to go on the wharf to get his (Bronson's) luggage on board, and they did so. Going along the wharf Bronson indicated some goods as belonging to him. At Moo'ly's suggestion they .went and had a drink in the Pier 1 Hotel. Moody paid. Then they went to another hotel — the Empire — Bronson said he would go in and get' his luggage, adding he had two boxes and two greyhounds. He told witness .to remain outside. Moody and witness stayed on the footpath while Bron&on went inside. After about five minutes Bronson reappeared, and 'said "he couldn'^ get his luggage ; he would have to go back to the boat and see about some money. Moody suggested that he and witness could help Bronson. He produced some money, and asked witness how much ho had. He replied that he had not much, and none ' to give away. He added that he had £4, which he gave to Bronson, who went back into the hotel, saying that he would repay when he got on board. Bronson told witness to wait outside, and ho told Moody to go and get a duty stamp. Moo^y -n-eni away and came back, saying that he couldn't get the duty stamp, and he, would have to go into the bar of the hotel and try to get one there. He went in, and after about five minutes witness followed them but coidd find no trace of them. Racecourse-Detective Neilson said he had seen the accused at race meetings recently. On each occasion they were together. Detective Andrews said he knew both the accused. He arrested them on the evening of 27th January, when they were about to leave for Auckland by train. Moody said. "Let me go, and I'll go back fo where I came from. I'll go back to Sydney." Brohson said, "This is no good to me. I want to go to Sydney, too." Moody \ denied knowing anything about the offence, and Bronson said he did not understand anything about it. After hearing further 'evidence, his Worship committed the accused for trial. Mr. O'Leary applied for bail, which was fixed at two sureties of £50 each.