A HOME BUILDER.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 April 1921, Page 5

A HOME BUILDER.

SEQUEL IN THE COURT. ALLEGED THEFT AND OTHER CHARGES. EVIDENCE OF A NOVEL SCHEME. By Telegraph.—Presa Association. Wellington, Night. At the Magistrate’s Court to-day Thomas Keen Cockbu’rn was charged with theft and false representations. Tbp first charge was that he obtained £l5O from E. I. Parrington by falsely representing himself to be the owner of timber sawmills in Dannevirke. The second charge was one of the theft of £2O from Parrington. It was stated accused established himself in 1920 as a builder under the name of the Ter? bidoe Building Syndicate and through answering advertisements and in either ways he contracted to build houses, asking for and receiving deposits ranging from £lOO to £l5O. Accused, who really was the syndicate, undertook with clients to borrow money from the State, taking the second mortgage himself for the balance beyond the amount of the deposits. Evidence was called to the effect that people had paid deposits to accused on his promise to build, but that he made no attempt to proceed with the erection of houses. One witness who sought work from accused gave evidence that he was employed chiefly in the preparation of plans and supervising the work. He was (ngaged for a period at £9 a week and for a subsequent period at £7 a week, but in twelve months he only received £63 in wages. During the period he was in accused’s employ he had prepared plans and specifications of buildings worth £2OOO.

Detective-Sergeant Torrance gave evidence of fruitless calls at accused’s office. He went to his private house and met acoused’s wife, who said the latter was out ef town. The detective was not satisfied and went back to the door and knocked. There was no response and he then threatened to force an entrance, whereupon accused opened the door and he was arrested. Accused pleaded not guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial, bail being fixed at £ 150 and two similar sureties.