SENT FOR TRIAL

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 34, 2 October 1931, Page 3

SENT FOR TRIAL

(Press Assn.-

defendants in britannia bank case ~*magistrate's difficulty

-By Telegraph — Copyright).

Rec. Oct. 1, 7 p.m. SYDNEY, Thursday. When the Mond case was resumed to-day, : Mond's counsel, Mr. Manning, submitted that no offence had been disclosed in the evidence. Detective-Sergeant Lawrence said the police were satisfied that there was no intent to defraud, judging by the two men's actions. The Magistrate, Mr. Shepherd, asked: "Don't-.you think the prosecution was premature as the scheme had not matured, it being said that everything was subject to confirmation in England." Detective Lawrence expressed the opinion that an agreement to commit offences had already been completed. What accused intended to do afterwards the police did not know. Mr. Manning urged that Mond's action had been quite in order. The Magistrate: "Cannot an inference be drawn from the fact that he had not produced on demand a document said to be a power of attorney signed by influential men in England." Mr. Manning: "Not at all." Mr. Scott, for the Crown, submitted that defendant's intention was to convince leading business men that they were bonafide and then to obtain money from the public. The Magistrate: "What is troubling me is the matfcer of ratification in England. Do you suggest this would have been rigged up by defendants. Mr. Scott: "Yes." After further evidence Mond and Cunningham were committed for trial, bail being fixed at £40 eaeh, the 'Magistrate remarking that he would leave the matter to the AttorneyGeneral.