FARMER'S MONEY.!

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 85, 11 April 1933, Page 10

FARMER'S MONEY.!

SALESMAN FOR TRIAL.

CHARGE OF CONSPIRACY.

ARREST ON SYDNEY STEAMER. The hearing of the charge of eonspiring with James Taylor and another person, by deceit, to defraud Francis Atkinson of £580 on February 15, brought against a salesman, Jack Walker, aged 32, in the Police Court, was completed late yesterday afternoon.

Detective-Sergeant P. J. Doyle said lie made inquiries about tlie matter, following a complaint made by Atkinson. He went to Wellington, and at 3 p.m. on March 16 he saw aceuscd on board the steamer Wanganella, which was due to sail at that hour for Sydney. Accused was booked as a first-class passenger under the name of George Andrews. Atkinson was witli witness, who told accused that Atkinson had complained that accused and two other men had obtained £580 from him at the Station Hotel on February 15, by means of a confidence trick. Accused replied, "It's fine and dandy, boy; get on with the business." When charged on warrant with the offence Walker made no reply.

Accused's Alleged Statement. Witness said he escorted prisoner back to Auckland, and while seated in the railway carriage opposite Atkinson, accused, pointing to Atkinson, said, "Look at him; ain't he a sucker? Now, how could a man pass him by? You know, guys like him are born every day. In fact, they never die. I suppose he told you about .me treading on his foot and picking up the wallet from under the table? You know there were three of us in this, and I only got '£182 out of it. The other two guys got the same, and we gave the 'mug' back £15. I don't like that guy. You know, he lied to me. He told me lie had £1000 in the bank, and I felt like cracking him when I learned he only had about £650, but he was agreeable to raise a mortgage on that farm of his up at Kaitaia; but I felt a bit sympathetic for once in my life and I stopped him from getting on the train to raise the £400.

"If I had five minutes with that guy now he would run away from you 'Dicks' and you would never see him again. If he had waited another day he would never have squealed to the 'Dicks.' You know the story wasn't finished. It's a good story, and I don't think it has been put over here before. We call it the 'pay-off.' "This is a great .little country," said Walker. "You know, there is a lot of money to be made here. I like Rotorua, and with a couple of grood men I could make a lot of money there in the season, but I would want, a little protection. It would be worth : s per cent to. you, and we would give you a guarantee that we would only take on visitors and never touch a New Zealander. Taylor, who was one of the men in this, is a 100 per cent man. You know, I have been all over the world and have made a lot of good money, but I spend it as fast as I get it. The 'Dicks' got me twice in the States —the last time I got 90 days."

Detective-Sergeant Doyle said: "I said to him, 'Well, you are not in the States now, and your methods will not be tolerated here, so you had better keep out.'"

Walker pleaded not guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was not asked for.