W. R. WATERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 206, 3 September 1897, Page 3

W. R. WATERS.

SENTENCED TO EIGHTEEN MONTHS'

HARD LABOUR

REMARKS BY THE JUDGE

At the Supremo Court criminal session this morning, "Sofore His Hoaor Mr Justice Connolly, Benbence was passed on William P.. Waters, late legal manager of goldmining companies, who had pleaded guilty at the opening of the session to three charges of falsifying the share register of the Fiery Cross G.M. Coapany. Before Hia Honor recorded sentence ho asked Watora if ho had any further witnesses to call.

Prisoner said he would like to call some witneaeea who would, speak as to his past character.

The first of these was Frederick Jatnea Bennett, draper, of Auckland, who said he had known Waters for four or five years since he first came to Auckland, and had always known prisoner to be strictly honest and.straightforward.

Thomas Williams said he had known Waters for about 20 years, and had several business transactions with him and always found him perfectly honourable.

Joseph Ehrman deposed thab ha had known Waters during his residence in Auckland, and had alwaya found bis transactions with witness etrictly honest and honourable.

Archibald Noble, grocer, said ho had known Waters for four or five yearß, and Waters had been a customer of hie, and all his transaction with witness were strictly honest.

His Honor then called Graves Aickin aa .to the affairs of the Fiery Cross Goldmiaing -Company. lie stated, in answer to His Honor that the directors' meeting at which the increase of capital by 70,000 .shares was resolved upon was held on Juno 2nd, and was confirmed on Juno' 4bh, Hia Honor said ho noticed the transfers by prisoner were on various dates in the month of May, a number Of them being on May 20th, only one wae on the 4th of Jane. This was in reference to prisoner's abatement thab arrangements for the creation of new capital were in progress when he (Waters) •old the share 3. Mr Aickin in further ovidonco apoko as to the creation of new capital, and in reply to the prisoner said thab ib wa« about a week before the 2nd of June that tbo matter was first mooted at a meeting in Waters' office by Mr Ralph ; possibly h was ten days before. The formal meoting was not, however, held till June2»d, andarrangementß for the creation of new shares were practically nob concluded till tho 26th of June, when a, meeting of shareholders waß held.

His Honor, to Waters : You have heard Mr Aickin, have you anything to tay ?

Waters : Only this, your Honor, thab the question was practically settled some time before. 1b was discufsssd some weeks before the meeting of directors, and could not be settled then because there were nob enough directors in town.

His Honor : Mr Aickin denies thab,

Hia Honor, addressing Waters, then said he had given an unusual amount of attention to tbe case, because its was one of an unusual character. Aa to hi 3 calling evidence as to character, prisoner had in the first place boon contenD with calling two witnesses who practically knew nothing at all about hia general reputation, and one of thorn had lost sighb of him lor 15 years. The best character another witness could give him was that he had nerer been charged with any offence. Thab His Honor believed, was true; ha had never boea actually charged with dishonesty. But His Honor had looked into the proceedings which had taken place in connection with prisoner's bankruptcy, and from fcho remarks of Mr Justice Richmond there was a clear case, similar to this one, that he had used hia position as manager of a company to misappropriate the funds of the company, jusfc as in the present cf.se ho had used these non-existenb shares for the purpose of obtaining money. As to the witnesses whom Waters had called to-day they could only speak to their own transactions with prisoner, and not to general reputation, which were very different things. The Courb had the evidence of Mr Aicffcin that tho proposal for the creation of new shares was only resolved on on June 2nd, and had only iirst been moated a weok or ten days before; bo that there was no possible pretext for prisoner to suppose that ho (prisoner) would have any shares to disposo of. He must cay fchab bhera had bsonsome negligence on the part of the transferees of the shares in question, as they did not tako proper care with regard to the shares they were buying, His Honor did not know vory much about eharo transactions, but he thought that buyers of shares should not bo so negligent; as to take transfers of shares numbered blank, In conclusion, His Honor said : '•The sentience of tho Court upon you on each of tho charges against you is that you bo imprisoned in 4he Mount Eden Gaol for the term of 18 calendar months, sentences bo be concurrent."

The visit of tho Governor bo Auckland has afforded to the "Graphic" an opportunity for illustration of wfaich that popular journal has not been slow to avail itself. In the issue now ready wo notice pictures of His Excellency's arrival at Onskufign, the reception at) the Public Library, tho presentation of tho address by the Mayor, «nd views of other incidents in tho visit. There is also tho first picture ever taken of Lord Ranfurly in court dreaa, and along with the number is issued a magnificent photograph—tho late-'b taken—which will bo found a splendid picture to frame. It is printed on ppscial plafco papor and is supplementary to the ordinary edition of the " Graphic." The journal contains in addition to these attractions photogravuroa of Now Zealand subjects, and the usual carboons. An interesting illustrated story of a strange weird adventuro in a lifctlo explored part ef tho South Island occupies several columns of the journal, and there nre topics of the week, the society news, the correspondence columns, the ladio*' pages, children's pages and miscellaneous reading matter which combine to make fche paper the most interesting of its kind in the colony, and the. best) suited for transmisaion aboard. j