THE HON. J. B. WHYTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3106, 11 June 1892, Page 2

THE HON. J. B. WHYTE.

(by telegraph.—press association). Wellington , , Thursday. The hearing of the charge against linggutt nnd Whyte wa< continued all day in the Resident Magistrate's Court, and cannot be finished before late to-morrow. It is understood that other charges are likely to be laid against the defendants. Chnrles O'Hara Smith said at the interview with Baggott, at which Mr Fitzgerald was present, Baggott was called upon to explain certain matters in connectinn with liis accounts regarding the purchase of the section by Mrs Orawfor.l, and the substitution of Government scrip for cash without the knowledge and consent of the purchaser or her agents. Baggott replied : "Whyte brought me eight volunteer orders .it £30 each, and I gave him a cheque on my deposit account for£24o, which was paid in to the credit of his account. I paid Pearce's cheque into my deposit account. I have on several occasions cashed land orders for Whyte, but got no commission for so doing, 1 [ay, who acted as Whyte's agent at one time, offered me commission, which I declined. I paid Government money direct to Whyte over the counter and took Whyte's land orders in exchange. Considerably more than two-thirds of the laud orders were Whyte's. Whyte told me that they were transferable, and were as good as cash to the Government, and now I find that I am deceived. I did not act as Whyte's agent in getting him cash buyers ; I simply cashed his orders/' Witness made a note of Baggott's remarks immediately after the interview. The statement was elicited by a number of questions from witness and the ControllerGeneral, On the 11th, he saw Buggott again in the Provincial Buildings, and Baggott then stated that Whyte approached him and said, "You have seen Hay re commission," He (Baggott) said "Yes, I won't take it," but offered to do .vhat he i could to help him to dispose of scrip. "Whyte," continued Baggott, "used to put scrip in the bank, and I got the scrip and paid the money to his account. I did not act as agent for Whyte. I did not get him cash buyers, but gave him Government cash for the scrip ; that is, I went to the bank and paid in the cash to tho credit of Whyte's account, and got scrip from the bank. Whyte know I was paying him Government cash." Witness saw Maggott again in the presence of McAllister, who is employed in the Lands Department to inspect land accounts. He produced to Bagg&tt copy of the puy-in-slip dated 27th April, 1880, for £231. He showed him an endorsement and asked him if in the face of that evidence he meant to say he got no commission from Whyte. Baggott said he did not get any commission, and that he thought Whyto got A.U Witness said, "with all due deference in face of this paper, I could not believe it." Baggott then said Whyte made him a present of atout JKIO in all, and of thi3 the £G formed part. Ho (Baggott) would not receive any commission, and got this as a present. This was the substance of the conversation of which witness took notes at the time. Wellington , , Last Night. The case against Hon. J. B. Whyte and Bagott for unlawfully using land scrip has been adjourned to the 28th inst. The case against Baggott for embezzlement commenced this afternoon, but only formal evidence was taken.