ALLEGED CONSPIRACY.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3101, 31 May 1892, Page 2

ALLEGED CONSPIRACY.

*_ THE RECEIVER OP LAND RKVENUE AT WELLINGTON ARRESTED. INFORMATION LAID AGAINST HON. J. B. WHYTE. (BY TELKttKAI'H.— PItKS.S ASSOCIATION). Wellington, List Night. G. M. Pagott, Receiver of Land Revenue for the Wellington district.has been arrested on it charge uf embezzlement. He was suspended sonic time ago, but afterwards bo wan reinstated. Since then further investigations have induced the Audit Department ti> lay an information against Bagott on certain charges of conspiracy to defraud somewhat similar to the Etheridgß case at Auckland. The amount involved is a Urge one. Accused, who is wellknown, was minister's warden at St. Mark's Church. His arrest has caused a great surprise. This afternoon a further information was sworn against Bagott and the Hon. J. 13. Whyte, of Auckland, charging tliurn jointly with having between the year' 1887 and IS9I conspired to defraud the Government of large sums of money, amounting to upwards of £900, particulars of which are specified in the information. The transaction out of which these charges have arisen are said to be identical with those in respect of which Etheridge, formerly Receiver of Land Revenue at Auckland, and Whyte were charged some time ago, but which were abandoned, as a material witness had left the colony. Etheridge is now undergoing a sentence of imprisonment for the embezzlement of other money belongto the Department. Bagott, it la alleged, received sums of money particularised on account of the Consolidated Fund, and at Whyte's request substituted for it certain land scrip belonging to the latter. The informations in each instance are sworn by the Audit Department. The parties are to appear on summons. Bafegott was brought up at the R.M. Court to-day, and charged that he did on the 27th April, 188!), embezzle £2-10 of money belonging to Her Majesty, and that at several other times within six months he embezzled certain sums of money. He was remanded, the bail fixed being himself £100 and two sureties of £50 each.