THE ALLEGED RAILWAY FRAUDS.

Press, Volume XLI, Issue 6153, 9 June 1885, Page 3

THE ALLEGED RAILWAY FRAUDS.

The hearing of the. cases of alleged conspiracy to defraud Her Majesty the Queen was resumed yesterday, at 11 aon., •eeuted on behalf of the Crown. The case of Begina v Bobert Dudley and Thomas Hough was taken first, the prisoners being indicted for a conspiracy- to defraud the Bailway Department in Lyttelton.

Thomas Bradley, the stationjnaster at Lyttelton, produced the day-book kept by the prisoner Hough as timekeeper for the fortnight ending January 17th, 1885. In that period the name of the prisoner Dudley appears for thirty-two hours. Iα Ihe ledger for the same period, also kept by the prisoner Hough, and from which the pajsheete are made up, the name of the prisoner Dudley appears credited with eixty floors, or twenty-eight boon more than he was credited with in the day-book. Iα the payaheet for the same period Dudley was credited with sixty hours, making a total amount of JB3, which be received. ; Thomas Nicholeon, chief clerk and cashier, deposed to paying the prisoner Dudley the sum of JE3 for sixty hours at la, as appearing on the payaheet for the fortnight ending January 17th, for which lie took the prisoner's receipt.: James Yule, Foreman in the Bailway Department at Lyttelton, produced the time-book for the fortnight ending 17th January, 1885 The same of the prisoner Dudley did not appear therein as having worked for the Department during that period. Thomas Tattenell, Henry Hntchineon (who deposed that prisoner Dudley bad not worked under him for twelve months), "William Slater, John "Wilson, and Thomas "Wyman, foremen and storemen in the employ of the Bailway Department, deposed that prisoner Dudley never worked for them during the fortnight ending January 15th. ■

Thomas Bradley waa recalled to speak as to the interviews had by him with the prisoner Hough, and as to the contents of the time-book kept by Hutchinson which had been lost Prior to its lose, he had been through it three or four times to it, and was able positively to say that tbe name of the prisoner Dudley did not appear therein for the period wvfo»g .January 17th. - Mr Joynt said that tt™ Worship would see that the prisoner Dudley, though re«e»Ting payment for sixty hours work, had sot worked a single hour fertile Department ■. • ' . ;

_ The-priaoners were then fully committed for triil. Dudley was admitted to bail, lumsslf in £100, and two sureties in ,£IOO ■*•*.;.■ ■ ':"■■ ■".:■-., '..;■■■'•

%■ Thomas Hough, and Thomas HftMtT*"ff™»W were . then indicted for defrauding the Safhray Department. Bradley produced the day-book «pt by the prisoner Hough of tie tone worked by the casual laborers ** the Bailway Department for the fortnight ending the 19th July, 1884. *anng got period the prisoner Mac-

dooaeU was credited in the day-book with thirty-eeven and a half hours. In the ledger for the aame period the prisoner -Macdonnell was cred ted with sixty-nine and a half hours. In the pay-eheet for ; $he same period prisoner utanAnQfun -was credited with sixty-nine and a half hours, and received £3 9s 6d.

.Thomas Nicholson, chief, clerk and eaahier, deposed to paying Macdonneß 43 9a 6d for sixty-nine and a-half hours casual labor, for the fortnight ending 19th July, 1884. :

.James Yule, one of tie foremen of the Department, deposed that in his time-book for the fortnight ending 19th July, 1884, the name of the prisoner Macdonnell did not appear as having worked under him. Thomas Tattenell, also a foreman, gave evidence to the effect that for the fortnight ynriiTig July 19th, 1884, the name of prisoner Macdonnell appeared in his hook as having worked two hours on July 11th. Henry Hutchinson deposed that in hie time-book for the fortnight ending July 19th, 1884, the prisoner Macdonnell was credited with twelve and a-half hours' work.

William Slater deposed that during the period covered by his book between the 7th and 19th July, 1884, the prisoner Maodonnell did not work for him.

John Wilson produced the time-book kept by him as storeman for the Eailway Department in Lyttelton. The name of prisoner did not appear in that book for the fortnight ending July 19th, 1884.

Thomas Wyman gave nirofl"* , evidence to that of the preceding witness. Thomas Bradley repeated his evidence as to the interview with the prisoner Hough at his house, and stated that Hough marked the name of prisoner Macdonnell with a red cross in the day .book as having received more money than he ought to have done.

Mr Joynfc pointed oat that the prisoner had only -worked fourteen and a-half hoars instead of Bixty-nineand a-half, for which he had received payment. The prisoners were then fully committed for trial at the next session of the Supreme Court.

Mr Nalder applied to Bos Worship to fix the amount of bail for Hough so that he might be able to get the necessary security. His Worship said he was bound to see that substantial bail was tendered. The bail he should require was Hough himself in JESOO and two securities in .£250 each.

Mr Joynt submitted that bail must be entered into for all three cases now to be heard, and also for his attendance at the Supreme Court to take his trial. His Worship said that he would have to do this.

Mr Joynt thought the amount of bail fixed by His Worship was absurdly low. When the matter came before him on the application to bail Hough to attend at the Supreme Court, he should ask that the sureties be made £500 each.

Mr Nalder submitted that two sureties in £250 each, and the prisoner £500 was quite sufficient. His Worship said it was only right that in a case such as this he was bound to pay a little deference to the opinion of the Crown solicitor on the matter of bail, while always looking to the fact that he was not to demand excessive baiL If the bail, was objected to Mr Nalder could apply to the Supreme Court. ' Mr Joynt now formally applied to hie Worship to fix the bail at. two sureties in .£250 each, and Hough in £500. His Worship ultimately fixed the bail at two sureties in £350, and himself in £750.

George Willmott and Thomas Hough were charged with having conspired to defraud Her Majesty the Queen of certain monies. .

Thomas Bradley produced the day-book kept by the prisoner for the fortnight ending December 20th, 1884. In this there appeared twelve hours to the credit of the prisoner Willmott. In the ledger for the same period the prisoner was credited with twenty-four hours. On the pay-sheet Willmott appeared as credited with twentyfour houra, and received Jβ! 4e. -

-. Thomas. Nicholson deposed to paying the prisoner G. Willmott JBl4e for twentyfont hours' casual labor, aa entered on. the pay-sheet for the period, ending December apth, 1884.

James Yule, one of the foremen of .the Department, produced hie time-books. There was no entry of the name of Q. r Willmott as having worked during the fortnight ended December 20th, 1884. Thomas Tattenall also gave evidence to a similar effect, as did Henry Hutchinson, William Slater, John Wilson, and Thomas Wyman. Thomas Bradley deposed to the interview he had with the prisoner Hough on the subject of the discrepancies in the books.

Mr Joynt said in this case twenty-four hours had been paid for, but none had been worked.

The prisoners were then fully committed for trial. - ■■ \*. ■.■":' "„:?, j s- ■ : The prisoner MaCdonnell* was*admitted to bail, and the Court adjourned until 11 aan. to-day.