BEECHER RETRIAL OPENS IN NAPIER: CROWN CASE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23349, 4 September 1950, Page 6

BEECHER RETRIAL OPENS IN NAPIER: CROWN CASE

(Special)

NAPIER. Sept. 4.

A huge series of frauds, representing more than £22,000 is alleged against John Charles Beecher, of Gisborne, car dealer, who appeared for retrial before Mr. Justice Hutchison in the Supreme Court here today. Fifty-one Crown witnesses are to be called and the hearing may last a weekBeecher is being retried on 41 charges of false pretences through allegedly defrauding the New Zealand Guarantee Corporation. Ltd., for various sums in financing car deals. Convicted at Gisborne. Beecher was allowed a retrial largely on t!ie ground that the application for a change of venue was declined by the presiding judge. No reference was made this morning to the conduct of the initial trial at Gisborne.

The reading of the 41 charges took the registrar more than a quarter of tin hour. The Crown Prosecutor is Mr. F. W. Nolan, and Mr. L T. Burnard appears for the accused. Sales On Time Payment Mr. Nolan said for two or three years prior to March of this year, year. Beecher was in business ,n Gisborne as a second hand motor car dealer. He began business under the name of Civic Motors and later bought a garage which he called J.C.B. Motors.! Beecher made virtually all of his sales on time payment and received finance j from the New Zealand Guarantee Corporation. which financed the deals on' condition that at least a third of the | purchase price was paid as deposit. I The unpaid balance carried interest I and payment was assured by promis- j sory notes

The evidence would show, said counsel, that in every case the buyer signed a blank form and blank promissory note and that Bcechcr then filled in an agreement. In some cases Beecher filled in a larger sum than the actual deposit. thus bringing it Lip to the lequired third and it was on this figure that the corporation paid Beecher. Some 20 Maoris were involved, said Mr. Nolan, and all would say that there was no interpretation of the documents made to them. Went Into Partnership Counsel said Beecher had taken into partnership t.wo men named O'Connor and Ford and then opened up the De Luxe Motor Company. “The charges are. laid under two groups—the first eight under the accused's own business and the other 33 through the business in which Ford and O'Conor were involved.” said Mr. Nolan.

“I he Crown alleges that Ford and O'Connor were only 'blinds' through which the accused could operate. When it was obvious that the game was up and discovery imminent Beecher told Ford that if be liked to ‘take the rap’ and go to gaol he would get £6OOO and O'Connor, who would get off, would get £2OOO.

In the event of both getting gaol they each would get £4000." (Proceeding.)