ALLEGED FALSE PRETENCES

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22465, 28 July 1938, Page 7

ALLEGED FALSE PRETENCES

♦ ACCOUNTANT CHARGED AT WELLINGTON COMMITTED FOR TRIAL (FBESS ASSOCIXTIOM TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, July 27. Several advertisements published in three North Island daily newspapers, stating that a trainee was required for the position of service man with a refrigerating company, led to the appearance in the Magistrate's Court, Wellington, to-day of Frederick Joseph Huddleston, alias Oppenheim, alias Lawbatchewsky, aged 31, an accountant, who faced six charges of false pretences and one of attempted false pretence. Huddleston pleaded not guilty and was committed by Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., to the Supreme Court, Wellington, for trial. Bail was allowed in two sureties of £IOO each, and one surety of £2OO. Accused was charged that, on or about June 9, with intent to defraud, he obtained £5 from Reginald William Edlin by falsely representing that by taking a course of study in refrigerating and air conditioning, at a cost of £2O, Edlin would be guaranteed employment with a company called “National Air Conditioners, Ltd.”, which was then operating a workshop at Hamilton. _ Huddleston was also charged that, with intent to defraud, he obtained £5 from Cecil Verdin Roy Edlin by false pretences; £]o from Arthur Edwin Hislop, £5 from Cecil George Mann, £5 from Albert Edward Clark, and £2 from Arthur John Chapman. He was also charged that, with intent to defraud, he attempted to obtain £2O from Trevor Wilson by false pretences. De-tective-Sergeant P. Doyle conducted the case for the police. Huddleston was represented by Mr C. H. Arndt. Detective’s Evidence

Evidence of finding documents and letters which showed that between February 14, 1938, and June 29, 1938, accused had received £247 15s 6d from persons named on various lists, was given by Detective S. C. Browne, of Wellington, who described visiting Huddleston’s office in Vivian street, Wellington. “I saw accused, and told him we had received information to the effect that he was offering to supply courses of instruction in refrigeration and air conditioning, in order to fit young men for positions with a company called National Air Conditioners, Ltd., which was said to be incorporated,” said witness. When asked for information concerning the company, and the conditions of employment, Huddleston told witness that everything was “quite all right.” Accused said he knew what he was doing, and was prepared to give the men positions when the time came. “I asked for more information about the company,” witness said, “and the meaning of the business, and accused replied: ‘I don’t want to discuss the matter with you at all. I know what I am doing. You have nothing on me. If any explanation is necessary, I will give it in the proper place.’ After warning the accused, I told him he would be arrested on a charge of being a rogue and a vagabond, in that he was imposing on private individuals. He made no reply.” t Documents Found Witness said he had taken charge of all documents found at the office, and had checked over various papers. There was nothing to indicate that the company had been or was about to be formed. The documents found consisted of large quantities of correspondence, letters which had been systematically filed and indexed. “There are some hundreds of these let!:*:, and all are replies to numerous advertisements which have been inserted in newspapers throughout the North Island,” said witness. “In every instance the writer is making application for a position which has been advertised." At a later stage of his evidence, after handing in as exhibits the documents found, witness said that from cash receipt books, a diary, and other correspondence found in the possession of accused, a list had been prepared showing that between February 14 last and June 29 Huddleston had received a total of £247 15s 6d. According to

the list, the money had been paid by the persons concerned for courses of instruction to fit them for the advertised positions. „ Mr Arndt intimated that Huddleston had nothing to say at this stage.