TWO MEN CHARGED

Hokitika Guardian, 23 December 1932, Page 2

TWO MEN CHARGED

ALLEGATIONS BY POLICE

A CHEMIST’S FORMULA

AUCKLAND, December 20

Charged under the Police Offencss .Act, 1927, Raymond Francis Grigg, electrician, aged 37, and David -McArthur Todd labourer, aged 46, appeared before Mr W. R. McKean, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday, on a count of being deemed rogues and vagabond’s in that, being suspected persons, they frequented l’arkfield Terrace and Carlton Core Road on December 9 with felonious intent. Detective-Sergeant Kelly, who prosecuted, said it would be- contended in evidence that the accused Grigg was well known for allegedly performing illegal. operations. He had rooms in in the city. It was contended that Grigg came to know a formula* for certain purposes, the prescription being in the possession of a chemist, Frederick Edwards. “He obtained some of the preparation from Edwards by falsely describing himself as a. married man,” Mr Kelly said. “Further supplies were obtained by tales. Edwards later suspected that Grigg wanted the preparation for purposes other than those stated, and refused to supply any more. The evidence will show that accused then got iu touch with the accused Todd, and another man, and put up to them u scheme that Todd should represent himself as a detective, and induce Edwards to give the formula. Todd was to approach Edwards at his home, and produce a Court document, alleging to prosecute Edwards for supplying a lotion for a certain purpose.”

ARREST RY DETECTIVES

Mr Kelly said the oTTIer man was to accompany Todd simply to appear as a second police official. The two accused and the third man went to Parfield Ttrrace on December 2, Todd being supplied with a Court document, a blank paper and a pencil for Edwards to write down the formula after being threatened with prosecution. They accidentally passed Edwards, who saw Grigg. On the night of December 9, the three men again went to the locality. Todd apparently . became frightened'to carry out his mission. With the ether man, he returned to Grigg, who was waiting with his motor-car in Carlton Road, where the two accused were arrested by detectives. In Todd’s possession, Mr Kelly said, was ; a summons charging Edwards with supplying the lotion. It would be sated that the document was typed on a machine found in Grigg’s room. Frederick Edwards, chemist, said he was in business in Mount Eden Road and lived at 9 . Parkfield Terrace, Grafton. Witness eventually declined to supply more of the preparation. On'the evening of December 2 witness had seen Grigg, who was with two other men, in Parkfield Terrace. Witness had been shown by Detective Kigght the document charging him with supplying the lotion for a certain purpose. It was not correct that witness had done so. WITNESS’ NAME SUPPRESSED A man, whose name was suppressed on his own application, said Grigg had told him frequently that he had performed illegal operations. In November, Grigg approached witness, who was unemployed and asked him if he wanted to earn. £5. Grigg desired, witness said, that Edwards should be approached and the formula requested from him. Subsequently Grigg met Todd and witness in the Domain and suggested that Todd and witness should pose as detectives to demand the formula. Grigg supplied Todd with a Court document. Witness described the circumstances of the visits to the locality of Parkfield Terrace and Carlton Gore Road.

Evidence was called by the police stating that the Court document exhibited to the magistrate was typed on a machine found in Grigg’s rooms. Detectives Allsopp, Hamilton, Mills and Belton described watches maintained in the vicinity of Parkfield Terrace and Carlton Gore Road oii the evenings of December 2 and 9, and the movements of the two accused and the third man. The Court document produced was found on Todd, Detective Allsopp stated. Todd said subsequently that he picked up the document in Queen Street. , ONE ACCUSED RELEASED ON BAIL. In evidence, Detective Knight said Grigg was reputed to have, and suspected of having, performed illegal operations. Witness said he was in the vicinity during the observation of the two accused on December 9, the watch being made as a result of inquiries and information received by the police. Pleas of not guilty were entered b.v Mr Meek on behalf of Todd, and, acting on instructions from Mr Singer, on behalf of Grigg, the accused being committed to the Supreme Court for trial. In the case of Grigg, an application for the renewal of ball in the sum of £l5O, was granted, the accused being required to report! daily to the police.