CONSPIRACY CHARGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 124, 27 May 1932, Page 5

CONSPIRACY CHARGE.

FARMER AND HIS £1200. « PURCHASE » OF LAND IN PONSONBY. TWO MEN SENT FOR TRIAL. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WHANGAREI, Thursday. Clifford Spencer Dahlin, alias Power, and Reginald Clarence Williams, alias Reader, appeared in the Police Court this morning on charges of conspiring with John Brookes 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 con ducted the prosecution.

George Montague Poyner, farmer, said that in August he had visitors to his home. They were known as "Thomas" and "Williams." They came to sell four blocks of land at Ponsonby, where, it was claimed, a great glassworks was to bo 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 soon as you can buy the blocks of land off us." Witness did not want to go, a»< he was not dressed properly, but "Thomas" said that did not matter, and witness got into the car 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 said: "I believe you have bought these four blocks of land 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 £2800, 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 glassworks at Ponsonby, but could not find any.

Evidence was given by the manager of the National Bank of New Zealand, Dargaville, Mr. H. B. Armitage, that a man named Power had called on him with a cheque for £1200. Witness could not identify Dahlin as Power.

On August 22, said H. G. Graylin, accountant in the Bank of New Zealand, Symonds Street, he saw Power regarding a remitting warrant for £800, Power opening an account for that amount. Witness said he had identified the accused Dahlin as H. Power at the police station.

Chief Detective Hammond gave evidence of arresting the two accused, who were extradited to New Zealand from Sydney. Both were in business in Auckland together in May, 1931. Pleading not guilty and reserving their defence, the two accused were committed to the Supreme Court, Auckland, for trial.