GOLD MINE SCHEME

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 148, 19 March 1931, Page 10

GOLD MINE SCHEME

FRAUD CHARGE FOLLOWS Dominion Special Service. Palmerston North, March 18. Edward Ralph Martin, of Palmerston North, aged 51 years, and described as a miner, appeared before Messrs. 8. Abrahams and Bosworth, J.P.’s, in the Magistrate’s Court on a charge of false pretences, and with being a rogue and vagaTh? charges were that by falsely representing himself to be a qualified geologist and an experienced miner, he obtained £25 from Samuel James Rossiter; also that he was deemed to be a rogue and vagabond in that he imposed on. George Williams Simpson by falsely stating tinthe was a qualified geologist and exnerienced miner, and that eh had located gold in considerable quantities at lokomaru and thus obtained the sum of Accused, who was represented by Mr. Oram, elected to be tried by the Supreme °Tj. Rossiter said that accused had told him that he had a goldmine at lokomaru, and brought some of the samples alon„ with him. Mr. Rossiter said that he asked Martin what he knew about gold. Martin replied that he was a mining expert of twenty years’ standing, and that he had mines in America, Australia, and Yukon. After consideration he was elected a member of a syndicate to work the mine. He r paid him a cheque for xla, and £2 a few days later. When a piece of the ore was analysed a reply had S reeeiced that there were traces of gold, but of no commercial value. Accused said that the analvsts had midge against him. Mr Rossiter sa d that he gave accused £a when he w ®“t Wellington with samples and the follow ing day he sent a further £2.. He later gave Martin £1 to make up his share . £°s After two months lie became susp cfous. Martin, it was alleged, showed witness a letter addressed to him as proLengthy evidence was given by the prosecution. -