Over 18,000 Letters.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 40, 17 February 1914, Page 5

Over 18,000 Letters.

SERIOUS FRAUD CHARGES, "THE CEYLON SILK COMPANY." Ten yards of silk for 2s 6d, carriage paid. The Ceylon Silk Com- * pany have decided to make a special offer to advertise their silk* in Australia, to forward on receipt of postal order, valued 2s 6d, 10 yards of their famous guaranteed pure washing silk, in fast colors, comprising the following shades. ! A long list of colors followed, also a statement to the effect that not more ithan 10 yards would be supplied to any jOiie person. The advertisement ended up by urging prospective customers to | make a second choice of color to prevent disappointment, and to order - early, stating that the offer closed on January 14. The address given of tho company Mas 173, Pitt Street, Sydney. This advertisement was embodied in a charge, at the Central Court, Sydney, lon Monday, 9th inst., against Edwin Percy Liddle (37), of defrauding Florjence Edwards, Lottie Edith Arthur, Olive Ride Freeland, and Bertha Annie Jago, each of the sum of 2s 6d. Mr Maddocks Cohen (for Mr E. R. Abigail) appeared for accused. Detective John Walker said he and Detective Pearce saw accused at his office in Central Chambers, Pitt Street. The room was devoid of furniture or fixtures, and contained nothing but some bundles of letters, which he had since opened and found to contain Victorian postal notes to the value of £57 7s 6d. He also saw a bundle of newspapers. Accused explained to him that they were the papers he advertised in, in adjoining States. The letters said witness appeared to have been thrown through the fanlight, and many were lying on the floor when he autered the office. Witness told accused that they were detectives, and were making inquiries about the Ceylon ■Ulk Company. Accused said, "I am the manager, they are the largest silk merchants in the world, and have >ffices in Paris, Berlin, Brussels, London, Glasgow, Manchester, Vienna, Quebec, and Xew York. Witness ask>d him if he was the only one employed in Sydney, and accused replied, "There is a Mr E. B. Scott, who is the "boss." Witness asked him where Scott was, and accused replied, "I don't know. I mot him first o:i the Canberra, in November last. He engaged me on board to attend to the busitess, at £6 a week." Witness then isked him what he knew about silk, ind elicited the reply that he was a iraper by trade. "Where did you .neet Scott to get your pay and in"tructions," asked witness. "About the street," replied accused, but he .vas unable to tell what street, explaining that lie did not know the streets very well. "When are you going to see Scott again," was the next ■&&& '1 don't know," repiied accused, "he vent to Melbourne about a fortnight »go." , * ■

Liddle admitted he had cashed aboufe 2150 worth of postal notes, and added hat lie had given it to Scott. They then went to Liddle's home. As soon, s they entered the house he bolted up- * tairs. and went to a front bedroom. ' I'hey followed, and heard him say to a i.voihan who was sitting on a bed opening letters. ''Annie! Detectives! Don't .'orget -Mr Scott!" The woman rejlied, "I know nothing about Mr Scott. That's your buisness." Witness noticed a large number of Queen - and postal notes on the bed, which he lftsrwards found to be worth £7B 17s. 'nere were also 369 Victorian postal lotes, valued at £4O 10s 6d; 227 South, Australian postal orders, valued at ;24 12s; and 109 Tasmanian notes, , rorth £l4 Pis. The woman, in ans-i ■_ I ver to a question as to whether she lad any money in the house, went to i bed, and took a bag from between" :he bed and the wire mattress; Witless searched the bag, and found it to •ontain £126 in notes, and £B4 10s in zold. When he was searching the place, accused said to his wife, "£IOO >elongs to you." She replied, "I only .vant £65, which I drew out of the >ank, and earned at dressmaking." Accused said to witness when arrested, "We all make mistakes sometimes; ion't be too hard on me." Witness produced 1000 letters, which he believed conveyed postal notes to the Ceylon Silk Co. from Queensland. He dso produced 950 similar letters from Victoria, 197 from South Australia, and 252 from Tasmania. Also 930 opened envelopes and 332.) penny stamps. Several newspaper proprietors gave evidence of having received letters from the Ceylon Silk Co. containing advertisements. Bertha Jago, of Danby-street, Torrensville, S.A., said she sent a postal note for 2s 6d to the Ceylon Silk Co., Pitt Street, Sydney, city, but she had not received the silk. Lottie Edith Arhur, Olive Freeland and Florence Edwards gave similar evidence. Fredk. Jas. Kindon, a clerk in the Registrar-General's Department, said he had made a search in the registrar's list, but no such firm as the Ceylon Silk Co. was entered on it. Edward Ernest Ward, a letter-sorter, said that then 1 were 18.542 letters and 106 newspapers at present at the G.P.0., waiting delivery to the Ceylon Silk Co. Liddle. who said he was not guilty, reserved his defence, and was committed for trial at the Quarter Sessions on March 2. Bail was fixed as before, self in £3OOO and a surety for the same amount.