RAISING £50 LOAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 238, 8 October 1934, Page 8

RAISING £50 LOAN.

FRAUD CHARGE DISMISSED. OWNERSHIP OF A CAR. Pleas of not guilty were entered this morning at the Police Court by Charles Thomas Wood, aged 32, a traveller, to two charges, one of forging a document, and the other of falsely representing he was John Charles Madden, the owner of a motor car, with intent to obtain £50 from George Alfred Smith. Accused was represented by Mr. W. Noble. Senior Detective Hall prosecuted. George Alfred Smith, manager of a loan company, said that on June 12 accused called upon him and applied for a loan of £50. Accused proposed to give security over a motor car. He gave his name as J. C. Madden, and produced the registration papers and a receipt for a car. After inspecting the car and papers witness said he thought the loan would be made, but on checking up subsequently witness became aware that the accused, before be filled in- the document giving particulars of the car, was not the owner. Witness got into touch with the police, and when accused finally called to receive the loan Detective Davis was in the office.

Mr. Noble: When the accused signjd the document applying for the loan you knew the accused was not the owner and that he was not J. C. Madden? — Yes. And you told him to fill in the form? —No, 1 irave him the form and he filled all the particulars in himself alii signed it. You were really setting a trap for him? —You might look at it that way. I took the act'on I did in the interest of the public. He very nearly got £50 from me. John Charles Madden said he was the owner of the car. particulars of which were set out in the registration papers produced. Accused had no authority to raise, or attempt to raise, a loan on the car. Witness had given the '.'ar to a nephew, Ormor.d Frank St cans, to practically do what ho liked with it. The nephew was intending to get married and that was probably why ha desired the money. Witness presumed the registration papers were given to the accused by witness' nephew. His Worship: In view of this man's evidence it is not much use going on with the case. He sa\*s the car was virtually given to his nephew to do what lie liked with it. The nephew apparently wanted to raise £50 to get married and he virtually authorised Wood to raise the loan. The two charges were dismissed, as was also a charge against Ormond Frank Steans, of assisting or counselling Wood in the commission of an offence. Tlio latter charge was dismissed for want of prosecution.