THE MASTERTON ABSCONDER.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4716, 11 May 1894, Page 2

THE MASTERTON ABSCONDER.

The FirstGlwge Proud Six Months Hard Labour! (By Telegraph.—Presa Association), Wellington, Friday. At noon, John Anderson, late of' Maslerlon, was charged with attempting to defraud his creditors by concealing goods and money lo the extent of£9oo. Mr Tanner appearedfor the accused, and asked that the magistrate should deal with the uuee summarily, Mr Bell, for the Crown, thought that the case should go to the higher court.

Mr Martin said he would decide when he had hoard the evidence. - Mr Tanner said that Anderson would plead guilty, and the Magistrate decided to hear the fads.

Mr Bell in opening the case related the circumstances connected with accused's business in Masterton, which had already been publised on February sth, The accused had by letter opened an account with the Union Bank in Wellington, in the name of James Stewart, and on 3rd March this account was in credit to tho amount of £5lO 12s 6d. Abont the same date accused opened an account in the Bank of New Zealand, at Wellington, which, on March 2nd. had a credit of JEIOS Is Cd. A fur. ther account was opened by the accused in the National Bank, in the name of T, Smith, and tbis was also in credit on March 3rd, on which date Anderson left Wellington for Sydney. On 7th March accused was declared bankrupt and an order made stopping ( the amounts in the Banks pending further orders from tho court. Subsequently Anderson wrote to the Union Bank asking them to collect the various amounts mentioned aud forward the money to'him in Sydney. Anderson'bad been identified by clerks of the banks in which ho had opened accounts there, id thenames of Hugh Smith, George Thomas, and Charles Copeland,. " Constable May, of Masterton, was present when accused was identified, Numerous slips recording amounts paid into his Sydney accounts were found on him. Tho total amount of money mentioned in the information was £9OO, but a further amount in the Bank of New South Wales at New Plymouth would increase the.sum to over £IOOO. ;

. Anderson began business in Mastwton in 1893, his liabilities being £1750 and assets, apart from money in bauks, were valued at £B2O, Mr Martin, S.M., said if be dealt with the oasd summarily, be should do so only on tho condition that the other ease went to tho Supreme; Court,

Mr Bell mentioned thai there were two other charges, ouo of forgery. Mr Martin thought there should be a of a Supreme Court Judge reviewing any sentence he might pass. He considered that the opening address rovoaloil a serious paso of fraud, and ho was not prepared to deal summarily with bolh the informations laid under the bankruptcy Act, I

Mr Tanner contended that there was no actual crime in'keoping different accounts. The accused had no intention of leaving New Zealand, but for circumstances which arose suddenly, and caused him to change his mind, but ho (Mr not wish to enter upon them, ' Anderson had done all in his power to assist the I Assignee since his roturn, and there was nearly enough to pay the creditors' in full. ' ■ ■ '

_ .Mr Martin said eyen admitting thr' it was of little importance, there *' clear intent to defraud, ■ , w ? s planned, and he would Jr'/fTI maximum penalty, viz,, r* lct y, hard labour. jlx moDths The' second oLarif ~ into, it being the p\;f>s then gone commit for ti> *?• Binte 8inte J ntlon to The Offld'", ,al " P ro7ed .\ , would be Assignee said there estate w* :& t ' efic '' of JBlQO«in the brinei'r J ' * or ex P eMeß °f 1, a 1,), <g Anderson baok would pro« y liayo paid 20s in the &,

' Latest ■ Anderson Committed for' : Trial on the Second Charge: On away properly Anderßbn trialL- ■^^^^■^^H