Leonard Harper's Case.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 136, 7 December 1895, Page 2

Leonard Harper's Case.

(Per Press Association). Christchurch, Dec. 6. The second case against Leonard Harper was continued to-day in the Supreme Court. Several law points were disposed of or reserved by His Honor. Mr Skerrett, in addressing the jnry on behalf of the prosecution, reviewed and commented on the evidence, and told the jury all they would have to consider was whether the accused had converted securifsy to his own use with intent to defraud. Sir R. Stout, in his address to the jnry, said the Crown had got "boggled," and did not know where they were. He submitted the Crown had not proved accused knew that George Harper and Scott had executed a declaration of trust. There was no evidence to that effect, and as it was the root of the case the charge against the accused vanished. He commented strongly on the fact that the proceedings were not undertaken at the request of Hotham's representatives. The action of the accused in going to England and getting £35,000 from friends to put into tbe business to endeavor to save the money of the creditors was not that of fraudulent man. His Honor summed up and submitted the following issnes to the jury : — Had the accused at the time pledged the Springfield mortgage to the Union Bank with the knowledge of the existence of a declaration of trust in respect to such mortgage ? Did he, in pledging tbe mortgage convert the same to bis own use, or of the firm in violation of good faith, and contrary to the direction in writing as to the application of such secnrity, and if the conversion was with the intent to defraud. At 2.35 the jury retired to consider its verdict, and were locked up for the night. -^_.__-__^__^__^