ALLEGED CONSPIRACY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 271, 29 August 1935, Page 5

ALLEGED CONSPIRACY

CLAIM FOR INSURANCE MADE.

TWO MEN BEFORE COURT. (Pei- Press Association.) WELLINGTON, August 28. A joint charge of conspiring to defraud the National Insurance Company of New Zealand, Ltd., of £625, arising out of an acoiclient on March. 4, was brought against William Herbert Miller Duncan, a labourer, aged 34, and Thomas Johni Lucinsky, a labourer, aged 28, in the Magistrate’s Court. Dr. N. F. G. Hill, of the Wellington Public Hospital 1 , said Duncan was admitted to hospital on March 4.. Duncan told him ho hadi been knocked down by a car, the wheel striking his left leg, and the mudguard hitting him in the back as he fell. Duncan complained of a pain in the back of the skull, and a severe pain in the lowerpart of the back, which, lie said 1 , was very tender. In addition, he complained of a pain at the base of the right thumb.' Witness' found that movement in the joint at the base of the thumb was limited, which was compatible with a previous injury. The lower part of the spine was X-rayecl, the . pelvis, and also the thumb, but in no case was any bone-injury revealed. Duncan was in hospital from March 4 to 9, and was discharged at his own request. Another witness said he helped Lucinsky to pick the man up. Lucinsky told, him he did not know the man, and asked him to ring up an ambulance.

Evidence was given by witnesses that accused were lriends, and one w itness detailed being told! by Lucinsky that the accident was a “frame-up to get the insurance money. ' Both accused pleaded not guilty, reserved their defence, and were committed for trial.