CONSPIRACY CHARGES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 134, 7 May 1940, Page 7

CONSPIRACY CHARGES.

NAVAL INVENTION CASE. OPENING OF TRIAL, Per Press Association. "WELLINGTON, -May 6. The trial of Gordon Percy Aston and Harvey Maitland Chrystall . 011 conspiracy and other charges arising from the alleged invention of a device to divert torpedoes from ships was begun in the Supreme Court, to-day, belore Air Justice Smith and a jury. The joint charges against accused were that, between October 1, 1937, and July 3, 1939, at Wellington and other places in Now Zealand, they conspired by deceit to defraud Hartley Roy Sellars of sums of money totalling about £6705 Is 9d; that, between ruarcli 9, 1938, and June 21, 1938. by falsely representing that they were co-owners anti had sold to the British Admiralty a secret invention capable of diverting torpedoes from ships for £280,000, they obtained by means of an agreement made by that false pretence - with Edward Augustine Batt sums totalling £2094 4s 6d; that, on or about June 3, 1939, they stole a cheque for £750 drawn on, the New Zealand Racing Conference No. 2 Account at the Bank cf Australasia / Wellington), the property of the Racing Conference; that, on or about June 3, 1939, at Wellington, they received a cheque for £750 drawn on the Racing Conference account, well knowing the same to have been dishonestly obtained; that on the same day, by falsely representing themselves as co-owners of the alleged invention, and that they were required by the Admiralty to clear a mortgage off a property at Nelson known as “The Hut,” they obtained from Sellers a cheque for £750 drawn on the Racing Conference account; that, on or about October 12, 1937, at Christchurch, by falsely representing themselves as coowners of the alleged invention, they attempted to obtain £SOO from Charles Christopher Davis; and that, oil or about March 5, 1938, at Wellington, by means of the same false pretence, they attempted to obtain £3OOO from Hubert Louis Nathan.

.Both pleaded not guilty to all the charges. The Crown Prosecutor (Mr W. H. Cunningham) is conducting the prosecution, with .him Air AV. R. Birks. Aston is -represented by Mr D. W. Russell, of Christchurch,, and Clir.vstall by Air W. E. Leicester, with him Air R. T. Peacock.

Air Cunningham said the ro'o would probably occupy the whole of the present week and probably a day or two of next week, with which statement the defence agreed. The Judge told the jury they would be accommodated in an hotel, and the Court adjourned to enable (he jurors to make the necessary arrangements.