CONSPIRACY ALLEGED

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 68, 22 March 1933, Page 8

CONSPIRACY ALLEGED

BELIEF WORK PAY

TWO MEN FACE SERIOUS CHARGES

Allegations of a conspiracy between the foreman and timekeeper of the Townsend Boad relief works to defraud the Unemployment Board were made by the police at the Magistrate's Court today when John Charles Cannon, a draughtsman, aged 28, and John Alexander Paton Sissons, a labour foreman, aged 27,.appeared before Mr. E. Page, S.M. Cannon and Sissons were charged with conspiring to defraud his Majesty the King of sums of money, and with four other charges of making false vouchers purporting to be signed by "R. J. McGrath" for the receipt of pay. The amount involved in the alleged forgeries totalled £3 2s 6d. Detective-Sergeant Eevell said that Cannon was the timekeeper at the relief works at Townsend Koad and Sissons was the foreman. It; was intimated by Mr. A. M. Cousins, who appeared for Sissons, and Mr. E. G. Webb, who appeared for Cannon, that the accused would plead-not guilty to the charges. SOME IRREGULARITY. The first witness, Charles Edward Kidson, a City Council engineer, outlined the working of the alternative No. 5 scheme under which the Townsend Eoad job was being carried out. On January 16, Sissons telephoned to witness and said that there was some irregularity in the pay and that money dne to McGrath had been paid to someone else. Sissons said that a man named Hall had told him that McGrath had not received the money. Sissons alleged that he had been'tricked into allowing McGrath's name on the paysheet. . ■ Cross-examined by Mr. Cousins, witness said that Sissons had been working under him for two years. He had always found him honest in his dealings with the council. His records were always good, especially those dealing with stores. He had a good reputation for honesty. WORKER OVER-PAID. Boland James McGrath said that he obtained his present position as a mechanic to the Black and White Cabs on December 6. For four or five months prior to that date-he was"atta'ched to the Townsend Eoad relief works. -The last day on which he, was employed at that job was December 5. On the night of December 5 witness took his employment card home, and on" the following Monday or Tuesday he ga.ve it to Hall to get it signed by Sissons. Two or three days later the accused Cannon brought the card to witness's home. Witness was credited with either two or two and a half days' pay. Witness was actually only entitled to one day's pay. Cannon said there had been a mistake on the part of one of the timekeepers, and the best thing was to let it go, or the chap concerned would get into trouble. Witness did not want to draw all the pay, but as Cannon said that the other .man would get into trouble he eventually did so. After that witness drew no more pay from relief works. The signatures shown on four pay sheets (produced) were not witness's signatures, and he ,had not authorised anyone to sign them for him. 'He had received, no benefit from them. A MEETING WITH CANNON. About December 13 or 14 witness met Cannon at the corner of Hanson and John Streets. Cannon said that if witness would give him his card be would work it so. that he would, get Christmas pay. He said that they would split the pay between them. Witness would not agree to this. Early in January, Hall told witness that the money had been paid out of the relief work office in witness's name, and somebody else had collected it. Hall said that witness's name was still appearing on the pay-sheets, and he had decided to report the matter to the authorities. SUGGESTION ABOUT CARD. About January 16 witness received a telephone message from Sissons. As far as witness could remember Sissons said that he had put the matter in Mr. Kidson's hands and that Mr. "Kidson had informed the police. Witness asked him if nothing could be done, to stop it being taken up by the police. Sissons then asked witness if he had his card, and witness said he had. Sissons said that the pay appeared to have been drawn without the card. He suggested that witness should get rid of the card.

Witness took his card to Sissons's house later that day. Sissons said he had been tricked into putting witness's name on the pay card by Cannon, who had told him that witness was likely to be out of work soon and would be without money over Christmas, and if he was to put him on the time-sheet he (witness) -would make.up his time after Christmas.- After consideration Sissons agreed'to do this. It was suggested that in the event of trouble witness - should say that he had given his card to Cannon.

(Proceeding.)