ALLEGED FRAUD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 April 1940, Page 9

ALLEGED FRAUD

TWENTY CHARGES PREFERRED. TWO MEN BEFORE COURT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Christchurch. April i. Twenty joint charges of receiving from various persons sums of money or valuable securities on terms requiring them to account, for them or pay the proceeds to A. D. Park and Co.. Ltd., or the Top Hat Finance and Agency Co., and fraudulently omitting to do so, were preferred against Alan Donald Park, insurance agent, aged 31, and Stephen Arthur Williamson. salesman, aged 42. The sums involved totalled £652 10s. as well as securities of a value not stated. Mr J. T. Watts appeared for Park and Mr N. S. Bowie for Williamson, and Mr A. W. Brown conducted + r.ncn -fnr thn PrAwn

The alleged offences occurred between July 17. 1938, and May 12, 1939. and the people from whom the sums of money were alleged to have been received were Edward Cameron Russell, Margaret Caroline Easther, Thomas William Maffey, Minnie May Thompson, Rayon Clare. Gilbert, William Lewis Hopkins, James Cartwright Gilbert, David Green, Elizabeth Marjorie Neave. John Adams Buchanan. Alexander Robert Gilbert, and Roy Standord Gilbert. The two accused were also separately charged with the theft of £lOO. the property of Grgo Franicevitch. Also, apart from the sums of money, it was alleged that they received two forestry > bonds, an endowment insurance policy, and 60 shares in the Wilson Cement Company. The evidence of a number of witnesses was taken this afternoon, and it is expected that the remaining evidence for the Crown will occupy tomorrow.

Edward Cameron Russell, Auckland, said that he had answered an advertisement in an Auckland newspaper for the position of branch manager of .■ what turned out to be the Top Hat ■ Finance and Agency Company. After interviewing Park he had accepted the position, but found that he was required to invest £lOO in the company, which he duly did. He found, further, that he had to pay all his expenses as branch manager, and also of consulting with Park and Williamson. He received a cheque for £4O. but his total loss, including the money invested, was £l6O. Evidence was also given by Thomas William Maffey, Margaret Caroline i Easther, Minnie May Thompson, Rayon • Clare Gilbert. James Cartwright, Alex- : ander Robert Gilbert, and William ; Lewis Hopkins, of their dealings with I Park and Williamson, and of their > allegedly being induced to buy shares in A. D. Park and Co., Ltd., yet receiving no share certificates or receipts ; for the money in some cases.