A TRUSTING PUBLICAN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 42, 10 July 1914, Page 6

A TRUSTING PUBLICAN.

AND A BOGUS SURVEYOR. NEW PLYMOUTjtI CASE, A case whic-.i revealed in its entirety the trusting side of at least one New Plymouth -hctelkeeper's nature was hoard in the Magistrate's Court, New Plymouth, yesterday, when George Allen, alias Ca'pt. Knella, was charged with ■having obtained money under false pretences. A PLAUSIBLF; TALE. (Spencer Ridgeley, licensee of the Terminus Hotel, New Plymouth, deposed Hiat at about tl a.m. on June l!)th> accused came to his hotel and called for [ a drink. In the course of conversation, accused said that he was a Crown surveyor, in charge of eighteen men, and that his name was Captain Knella. He said that lie had been in the habit of staying at the house during the past 20 years. He asked for accommodation for' himself and four men, who were to arrive by the mail train that evening, and fo r eleven more men who were to arrive next day. 'ilo this witness agreed, and it was arranged that accused should pay for himself, but the men's beard would be paid Jiy the Government on receipt of touchers. He then went out. REQUEST FOR A LOAN. At about eleven o'clock that morning the accused returned, and came into the office. At that moment Capt. Stevens came in to use the telephone, and witness introduced accused to hini. In tho course of conversation, accusal said that he had come in to bail out some of his men, who had been detained by the police for drunkenness, and 'that"it had cost him £7 10a. He ul.so said that he had another appointment at If p.m., and that one of his men was (Stewart Seddon, "King Dick's son." 11« said he wanted to Keep the matter quiet, and eventually asked witness if he would "stand to him for £4," as having to bail out his men had left him short of money, and he wished to jmy off one of his men. Witness handcil over £t accordingly, and aceu-ed said he would return it after he had been to the (Survey Oll'ice, and made his arrangements, not later than the following day. Accused and his friend then went our,, and returned later in the day. Accused then asked for another £2, as he wanted to go down and meet liLm four men and bring them to the hotel. He promised to give a cheque for the £ii in the morning. Witness gave him the £2, and accused did not return. ACCCSLD CROSS-EXAMINES. To accused: On June 10 accused and his friend left the ba r on the first occasion, soon after they first arrived, and did not wait there until lunch time. Accused: Will yon swear that you and Captain .Stevens did not remain in tie- ibar drinking "green ntripe" whisky willi me from, it a.m. to 12.30?—! did not. Alter lunch, we went back to the bar? - No. I don't remember it. Why do yo.i not remember? You are quite clear in all your other evidence. I -appose it suit you to rememb.:-. Did you volunteer to lend uio this ;.. iiey?-Xo. Yeti remember my asking for a ehcqiic on the Ba.uk of New Zealand?— le-. earlier in the morning. His Worship: Did you give him a cheque '! Witness: No, 1 don't think so. I gave iiim four single notes, 1 think. His Worship: You are not certain 7 No. Accused: When did you lend me the _ When did you lend me the £2?— At "..'MI p.m. on the same day. Did you no l , tel'i the police that you but me £1 on one day and £2 on 'th; next?- No. Witne-s, to ]]is Worship: I should like to explain that when I gave him the £2 1 found, after he had left, that one of the notes had fallen on to the desk, and, as accused had gone, f picked it up. 11,. only therefore received £5. Accused (with righteous indignation) : And you were not hone>t enough to give it back?—Von had gone awav then. At tin,, time was I drunk or sober? —You knew well enough wlial von Were doing. Would a s.die,. man ask for £2, and "o away with only £l?-]t i s quite possible. Did you tell the polite about the £1 that was dropped?—J think so. Sergt. Haddrell pointed «ut that it was only an inference that the £1 note found by witress was one of those handed to accused. Captain Chas. IStevens, of the New Zealand Defence Force,,, stationed at llawera, cop oboiiitcd l the evidence given by the previous witness so far as it concerned him. Ho generally stayed at th? Terminus Hotel when "in New Plymouth. ]|,. repeated the convcr.-a----t-itn that took place in ihis presence, a, netailed by the former witness. Tin', wilnc-s. boweter, staled that he went iv to lunch iviih accused immediately alter the conversation in (lie bar \fter lunch, he wa- in thv hall, and saw Mr. Ridgeley go to his safe and baud accused four or live £1 notes. Accused: You said, after lunch?— Yes. as fa,- as I remember. I certainly saw Mr. Ridgeley band them to you.' "AIM-XT FROM TIIK LIST." I'ollet Carri'iglon. of Now Plymouth Mirveyor in the employ of the 'fiovorn"lent at New Plymouth, deposit t] ,., t Hie name, of Ceorge Allen, or Knella, were J, o tli absent from the list of liei Used surveyor- i„ New Zealand. There vas no oi.e ~f either „f these nan,-, working tor ih,. Department in Tantiaki. nor in private pra-ctice -\miseil: Why did y„u remain in court while (he other witnesses were giung evi.leme-r-llccause f was told it was not necessary for mc to leave the court. You beard (bat all witnesses were ordered out? V,-. Detective P.oddam gave! evidence as to '"!>'•*• »h'-n told the charge, accused ".■"'l "«t I." had been drinking- a„d "mn t know vn mud, about it. A CHANCE (»[,- FRONT. Accused pleaded guilty, and was commdted to th.. <„preme Court for sen-