CONSPIRACY CHARGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 123, 26 May 1932, Page 8

CONSPIRACY CHARGE.

FARMER AND HIS £1200. "PURCHASE" OF LAND IN PONSONBY. SUSPECTS FROM AUSTRALIA. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WHANGAKEI, this day. Clifford Spencer Dalilin, alias Power, and Reginald Clarence Williams, alias Reader, appeared in the Police Court this morning on charges of conspiring with John Brookee and Bertram White by deceit and falsehood, to defraud George Poyner, a farmer, of Waiotira, of the sum of £1200. A further charge of stealing £1200 from Poyner on August 21, 1931, was preferred. Chief Detective A. Hammond conducted the prosecution. George Montague Poyner, farmer, said that in, August he had visitors to his homo. They were known as "Thomas" and "Williame." They came to sell four blocks of land at Ponsonby, where, it was claimed, a great g-laesworks was to be built. He told them that he might be in Waiotira on the Saturday. On the Saturday he was at the station when "Thomas" came up and said: "They are up in Whangarei and we want you there as eoon aa you can buy the blocks of land off us." Witness did not want to go, as he was not dressed properly, but "Thomas" said that did not matter, and witness got into the ear and went to the Settlers' Hotel. "Williams" was driving and "Thomas" sat in the back seat with him. Asked For More Profit. In the commercial room of the hotel ho was introduced to a man named Power and another man supposed to have come- from Belgium. Power eaid: "I believe you have bought these four blocks of laud off Mr. Thomas," and asked whether witness would sell them. Witness eaid he would, providing he could do so at a profit. Power said he would give witness £75 on his bargain on each block, but witness asked for £150. Witness related that in reply to a question whether he would sell, he said that he had not yet paid for the block, but he would pay £1200 down. "Thomas" said to Power, "If Mr. Poyner will give you a cheque for £1200 I will give you a cheque for £2800." "Thomas," before that, had said he could not buy the section. " Thomas " then wrote out a cheque for £2SOO, and witness one for £1200. "I have received nothing for my money," said witness. Cheque Taken to Bank. Subsequently witness made a search for the glass\vorks at Ponsonby, but could not find any. Officers of the National Bank at Dargaville gave evidence as to the presentation of Poyner'e cheque, and the payment of £400 in cash and a remittance of £800 on the Symonds Street branch of the National Bank of New Zealand. (Proceeding.)