THE ALLEGED LAND SCRIP CONSPIRACY.

Evening Post, Volume XLIII, Issue 62, 14 March 1892, Page 3

THE ALLEGED LAND SCRIP CONSPIRACY.

BBEAK-DOWN OF THE PROSECUTION I By Telegraph. ) lunited pbkßs association. | Auckland, This Day. Tho Hon. J. B. Wnyle and Alfred E. Etboridge, late Receiver of Crown Lands Rovenue, were charged at the B.M. Court to-day, with conspiracy to defraud by the alleged substitution of land scrip for cash. Mr. Button, for the proac cation stated that he was unable to proceed owing to the abaenoe of the principal witness, Archibald Grandison, who left for England by the Tainui on the sth March. By arrangement, Mr. Button went on to stale the faots upon which the prosecution would have relied had they been able to proceed. Janet Grandison, wife of Archibald Grandison, purchased 272 acres of lend, and paid for it by her husband's oheque for i>lo3 3s 7d. The oheque wa3 drawn by Arohibald Grandison, and payable to " Crown lands or bearer." It wai paid on the 30th of September, 1839, to the Reoeiver of Crown Lands, and entered by him a3 cash in the Crown lands book. He entered i>lo3 Cs 7d as cash. The flgnre3 one and nought are scratched out in red, leaving the receipt in oiih .£3 3z 7d, whereas under the column for scrip j>loo is filled in. This cheque was stamped by the Eeceiver with the usual slump of the Crown Lands Office, and his own name placed across it. On the same day this oheque was paid by the defendant, Mr. Whyte, into his own account at the B^nk of New Zealand. The presumption was that the two defendants had conspired together to represent that" the Crown land had been paid for in scrip instead of in oa^h. Mr. Thco Cooper, who appeared for Mr. Whyte, expressed sinoero regret that the prosecution was unable to proceed. There w»i nothing: on the face of the cheque to convey any knowledge on Mr. Whyte's part that an improper act had been committed. Mr. Mahoney also spoke on behalf of Etheridge, arguing 1 that evon if the faots as alleged had been proved there wa? no evidence of a criminal act. Dr. Giles dismissed the case.