ILLICIT GOLD DEALING

Feilding Star, Volume 3, Issue 320, 22 July 1925, Page 6

ILLICIT GOLD DEALING

ALLEGED AGAINST. A PUBLICAN

Press Association) Greymonth, July 20.

Illicit gold dealing was alleged in the Warden’s • •Court. to-day in a charge by the Alines Department against Patrick J. O-Donnel, hotel manager, Waiuta. Jt is • alleged O’Donoll had dealings in gold with mythical Chinese, lie was. charged with making a false statement an tho gold dealers’ hook at .the Bank of New South' Wales, Greymonth, on December 16th, that the gold bought by the bank' was sold on behalf ot Hip Wan and Ah Gow, and was obtained at Waiuta He pleaded not guilty.

The Crown Solicitor (Mr Kiichingham) said evidence would be submitted that the Chinese names were assumed. ‘(The pola.be (riscovered tibat an Ah Gow died in 1923. O’Donnell refused to answer the questions of tho mining inspector, but later to Detective-Sergeant Young said two Chinese asked him to sell the gold for them, as he could get a better pr'ce. He could not say where the Chinese could he found, and he had no written record o! the transactions. O’DON NELL HEA VILY FI XED Later. Greymouthm, July 20. O’Donnell was convicted. Warden Alcldrum said he did not believe the tale about Chinese sellers. He had no doubt the gold was- obtained .illicitly. Defendant was lined £6 on each of' two charge.,- of failing to keep a proper record and £SO on each of two charges of making a. false statement in tho gold dealer’s book. with costs.