"FAIRY TALES"

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 23 July 1929, Page 4

"FAIRY TALES"

BY BANKRUPT CHINAMAN CHARGES, OF FRAUD (By Telegraph—Press Association) DUNEDIN, This Day. In the Police Court, Kum Yoon Lee, who appeared as a bankrupt before the Official Assignee, in April, pleaded not guilty to 14 charges of obtaining money and goods by fraud, or that being bankrupt he contracted debts without prospect of payment. Evidence* was given by Douglas William McKay, member of a merchant firm, that accused stated that he was opening shops and required goods. Accused told him his father was a .retired merchant living in Auckland, and where accused had lost £2OOO through giving credit. He said among other things that his father owned a motor which cost £1350, and that while in China his father was captured by brigands, ' accused having to go to the mountains to rescue him, paying £2OOO or dollars. This witness and other witnesses stated that credit was given because of accused's fairy tales. One witness said the accused's father was formerly in business in Dunedin and was a most honourable man. The father, in evidence, stated that he was a market gardener at Invercargill, and his family had large business opeiations in Auckland, Dunedin an 3 Tnvercargill. He had been a Chinese missioner in Dunedin for some years. His son was previously in the silk business with him, when a large sum of money was lost. Witness had been captured by brigands, but was not ransomed. He had never owned a car worth £1350, but had a Standard car at Invercargill. Witness had promised his son that if he behaved he would give him the gardens in which he was now working. The case was adjourned to an unspecified date.