"A RICH MINE"

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 476, 9 March 1933, Page 6

"A RICH MINE"

FRAUD ALLEGED ENDEA V OUiR S TO FORM SYNDICATE EOR MINING THAMES DISTRICT "FIND" Hamilton, Wednesday. Vivid pictm'es of a rich' gold mine in the Thames disitrict induced several Hamiltonians to invest cash in the project. The promoter of the venture, Frank Maleolm Camphell, aged 35, laippeared in Court to-day and pleaded not guilty to. eleven changes J of 'obtaining money by false pretences. A total sum of £55 was involved. Mi'. E. Clayton Greene appeared for accused. Reginald William Bennett, solicitor, of Hamilton, tastified that accused visited his office on August 28, 1931, telling him thlaSt he h'ad diseovered a rich outcrop of gold quartz in the Thames disfcriet. He produced several samples of quartz- allegedly from the elaim. He intended to register the claim, and if witnessi joined the syndicate he could handle all the Iqgial work. Th'e syndicate wfais for £650, the capdtal comprising 65 shares of £10 each. He mentioned the names of | Hamilton people who had invested, and intimated that they would not be called upon for an additional £5. Gampbell would have a contrelling intei^est, and would take in only his friends, old isioldiers and sports. Detective White: I suppose you didn't understand the meaning of the words "take in"? Witness: No. (Laughter.) Witness added that Campbell nepresented the quartz as being exceptionally rich, and the claim laisi the hest producing mine in the country. He advised witness to remain ready to go to Thames to complete the registration of the claim. Still Waiting Detective White: You are .still waiting for th'e call ? Witness: Yes. Witness added that before Christ- ; milais, 1931, .some of the slhareholders were dissatisfieid, as nothing had been heard of the project and. asked for a refund of the ishare capital. Campbell promised to call a meeting of shareh'olders, but failed to mJaterialise. Campbell had niever accounted for the money and never produced the registrationj of the mine. Frederick David. Jones, a confectioner, said he was induced to invest in the mine. Campbell told him he was negotiating with Mr. W. Goodfellow over the niattei', but had come to the conclusion th'at Mr. Goodfellow was wealthy enough, and he proposed to let iMs friends in on the proposition. He said all the legal documents and locality plans were held in a bank at Thames. He also 1'eferred to the nagotiations to purch'aise a mine at ap attractive price from Mr. A. B. Williams, of Hawkes Bay, as ihe "result of Canipbell's representations to a meeting of Hamilton shai'eholders he agreed to purchase aoaother share. Joihn Parlane, hairdresser and tobacconist Kenneth Porthouse Eade, compositor; James Fenton McCullogh, clerk; Leslie Charles Stubbs, clerk; George Gi'lmore Brough, clerk, and William George Tabling, all gave evidence th'at they were induced to invest in the project. Detective White g'atve evidence that on Februaiy 28 last he. interviewed the accused at Hamilton reigarding complaints from Hamilton people who had paid him money. Camphell ad-mitte-d receiving money and said he de&ired to make restitution. He isiaid ihe had a rich mine: at Waiomo, but declined to disclose its locality. He had not attended the meeting of Hamilton shareholders because of the illness of one of his children and had not attended the meeting on October 5 hecausie he h!ad been advised not to. He admitted h'e ihad not seen Messrs Williams and Campbell in Hawkes' Bay. He said the claim Mincher had registered was in no way conneeted with the Waiomo claim. The laiccused pleaded not guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was. fixed in two sureties of £100 and one of £100 in his own cognisanee.