AN EXTRAORDINARY CASE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIII, Issue 44, 21 February 1907, Page 2

AN EXTRAORDINARY CASE.

• CHARGE OF CONSPIRACY. A CONFESSION. On a charge of having conspired with other persons by deceit and other fraudulent means to defraud James Win. Chapman at Wellington on 4th February, two middle-aged men named Thomas Wallace, alias Williams, and John Baxter, again appeared before Dr M'Arthur, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court yesteTday afternoon. The case was commenced on Monday afternoon, when James Wm. Chapman, a builder's foreman, who arrived by the Kumara recently, related some of his experiences with accused and wvo other men, and alleged that he was defrauded of £90. Chief -Detective M'Grath prosecuted and Mr. Wiliord defended. Continuing, after We went to press, the informant, Chapman, said that after the alleged Tobbery, Baxter sa-w him off by the Manawatu train. On the journey up the line, witness thought over the case and went to the police station at Palmerston. In consequence of this, witness returned to Wellington next day. Witness's brother had gone to Auckland, at his request, and witness on arrival back in Wellington telegraphed for him. On coming out of th^ telegraph office, witness saw the accused Wallace, and he was arrested by Detective Williams. That night witness went to Christchurch with Detective Kemp, and saw Baxter riding on the' front of a tram. Baxter was arirasted by Detective Kemp. Witness had not seen anything of No. 1 or No. 2, and had not seen anything of his money. Cross-examined by Mr. Wilford, witness said he was sure that the accused Wore two of the men who were with him — just as sure as he was that he signed the false cheque. Arthur John Chapman, Brother of the first witness, said they arrived by the •Kumara on 2nd February, landed on 4th February, and banked £50 at the Savings Bank. He then gave evidence about meeting all the men described by his brother excepting Wallace. Related how he drew his £50 out at the instance of hie brother, and shipped for Auckland by steamer, intending to meet his brother there. Hugh. Ross, clerk in the Savings Bank, Wellington, gave formal evidence about the bank books belonging to the Chapman Bros. Thos. Butler, barman at the Brunswick Hotel, deposed that he knew the accused Wallace. On tho sth February, witness saw him coming- out of the private bar of the Brunswick Hotel. Wallace got a pen and ink, and then returned to the private room. There were come other men in the compartment, but witness did nbt see them. Detective Williams stated that at 11 a.m. on 7th inst., he arrested accused Wallace in Jervois-quay,, and charged him with the offence in' question. On the way to the station he tried to clear away from witness. About 8 p.m. that evening accused intimated uo Detective Kemp and witness that ho wished to speak to them. He said there were others in the case besides himself, one had gone to Christchurch, and two others were living in Pipitea-street. After he told them this they took him to the chief detective's room. The chief detective cautioned him that whatever he said would be used in evidence against him. Accused made a statement ; witness took it down, but accused refused to sign ifc. It was to the efiect that he arrived here by the Moeraki on 30th January. After being here a day or two he met "Skinny" and "Big Fred." He had had^ an acquaintance with both of these men in Australia prior to coming here. He also said that he met Baxter here, and mentioned that at th;it time Baxter's name was Alex. Williams. On Monday, 4th of this month, Baxter suggested to him that he had a "mug" just off the Kumara, and that later they arranged to meet this "mug" on the following day at the Brunswick Hotel. Baxter made all tho arrangements. Next day they met at the Brunswick, the "mug" turned up, and they got £90 out of him. His share was only £2. Baxter took the balance and went to Christchurch. He also said he was going South in the Maheno, and that Williams x who was really Baxter, was to meet him down South. His reason for not signing the statement was that he did not wish it to appear in court that he was implicating other men. On 10th February witness saw Baxter at the Police Station, Wellington. He made a statement, and after witness had reduced it to writing, signed it. The statement alleged that accused had come here some months ago from South Africa, and that ho had a wife and two children at Capetown. Since his arrival here he had hawked drapery for a Irving. He had sent on an average £10 a month to his wife for her support. . Four or five days before sth February ho met three men. They suggested that they had a "mug," and asked him to join them. Accused had received a letter from his wife, saying that the family was short of money, and tempted by these men, consented to go in with them. Prior to this ho had never been convicted of an offence. By means of a confidence criok he and tho others got £90. It was "cut up" between six of them, his 6hore being £14 16s. Next day he got £17 at the races, and sent £15 to his wife. The £10 found on him he was willing to refund to the complainant. Detective Kemp deposed that on Bth irrst. Detective Ward and witness arrested Baxter in Christchurch. Ho was identified by the informant Chapman, whom witness took to Christchurch. On being searched at the PoKoe Station accused had £1 13s 2d on him, a receipt for a Reuter's telegram for £15, several other receipte for money, and come papers resembling bank notes. Accused staved that tho receipts found on him were for money sent to his Tvife. Accused Wallace reserved his defence, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was allowed in self £50 and two sureties in £50 each, or one in £100. Baxter entered a plea of guilty, and was committed for sentence.