TALK OF "TAKING THE RAP” BY GOING TO GAOL

Grey River Argus, 12 November 1949, Page 7

TALK OF "TAKING THE RAP” BY GOING TO GAOL

FALSE PRETENCES IN SECOND-HAND CAR DEALINC ALLEGED Young Men’s Trial At Gisborne P.A. GJSBORNE, Nov. 11 The trial of William M. Clue Ford, aged 25, a carpenter, and Desmond Paul O’Connor, aged 23, a clerk, both of Wellington, on 36 charges of false pretences in deals in secondhand motor vehicles, and two charges of theft, neared the final stages in the Supreme Court to-day. O’Connor went into the witness box to give evidence for the defence. He stated that he came to Gisborne on January 20, 1949, and he met Ford, and together they made a trip to Auckland in the yacht, “Wayfarer.” While there he met a man, Jones, who was a salesman for 1 a man called Beecher, and tentatively discussed going into business. After the yacht reached Auckland a man named Harris visited the yacht, with Jones, to see them about the Civic Motors business in Gisborne. On returning to Gisborne, he and Ford saw Beecher, who said that he was to be the guarantor of a business which, Beecher said, was to be named De Luxe Motors. Beecher arranged an interview for them with Blackburn, who was agent for the N.Z. Guarantee Corporation and by whom they were told, at the conclusion, that they could go ahead. They reported this to Beecher. It was supposed to be a second-hand motor business ,for which they were supposed to pay £3OOO. Witness and Ford were in the business, and, he thought, was also Jones. They had no money, but they started operations. Beecher said that they would have to take 100 cars at. the start. They did not know what they were to do, but Beecher was giving them £lO a week. Jones told the witness how to fill in agreements. The prices of the vehicles which were the subject of the charges came through Jones and Beecher. Witness told Beecher that he could not. understand about the deposits and prices, and Beecher said that he had started business on £47, and that was how he had built it up. Beecher said that there was nothing wrong with it. The business was supposed to be a partnership, but no agreement, was drawn up, and Beecher had control.

Witness continuing, said they 7 found that cars had been sold of which he and Ford had no knowledge, and they learned later that Beecher’s salesman had handled them. Witness and Ford banked the moneys that they received. Witness saw Beecher, who went through documents, and told witness that so much money was owing. That was their first knowledge that he and Ford owed Beecher anything. Continuing his evidence, O’Connor said that Beecher was sometimes paid by cheque, but more often he wanted cash. Witness did not get receipts in all cases. When witness said that he could not understand the position, Beecher said that he had an agreement with a motor firm in Palmerston North, by which, when that firm sold new cars, he would get trade-ins. When finance by the N.Z. Guarantee Corporation stopped, about May 26, witness was in Wellington, and in a phone conversation, Beecher told him not to come back as “something had gone wrong.” On his return to Gisborne, he was told, by Beecher, to see Blackburn, who drafted a letter to Wellington, giving Beecher’s explanation of one deal. Witness, thereupon, said that he would have nothing more to do with the business. Beecher Mamed witness, saying that he had ruined the business. Beecher said that,' as Ford was guarantor, he was bound to go to gaol. Beecher said that if things did come to that, Ford was to receive £6OOO and witness £2009. If they both went to gaol, they 7 would get £4OOO each. That money was t 0 be paid to them for shielding Beecher. After they 7 had seen Blackburn, they 7 went to the police. When cross-examined, the witness said he had no money 7 or share in the yacht, “Wayfarer,” hut neither lie nor Ford had denied a statement to Blackburn that they 7 had £3OOO coming from the sale of the yacht, nor did they deny a statement that they had paid £3OOO for the business. All of the money 7 that witness and Ford received from the N.Z. Guarantee Corporation was banked. Within a few day the whole of the deposit, Oj- most of it, was withdrawn, but seldom in one sum. This procedure was adopted at Beecher’s request. They 7 were not dividing money up. Witness said that they 7 got more than £lO per week. ■ Sometimes there was £2O or £4O left to meet business expenses. They got enough out of the business to buy a, racehorse from Beecher for £5OO.

Re-examined, O’Connor said that the racehorse which he paid J. C. Beecher £5OO for, was supposed to run within three weeks. Eventually 7 it was sold, and the witness got only 7 £lO for it.

William McLue Ford, carpenter, of Wellington, said that he served in the Air Force from 1943 to 1947. He was a member of the crew of the yacht “Wayfarer” in January last, when it put into Gisborne, and stayed some tiny? to earn money to reprovision the vessel. He had a quarter interest in the boat. The witness met Jones, who was a salesman for J. C. Beecher, and he was always at them (the accused) to take over Civic Motors in Auckland. Harris and Jones met them, and the witness returned to Gisborne, in Beecher’s car, and he met Beecher at J. C. B. Motors. Next day, they met Blackburn, who told the accused what they had, and gave them to understand that they would be acceptable. The witness was to assist in selling cars, and Jones instructed him. Particulars came from Jones, or from Beecher's office half the time. Witness did not know about cars being sold after the Finance Corporation had refused further finance. Beecher told them to try to get enough money to meet the next promissory notes. Beecher told them each to take a car down the line, and to sell them for cash. Beecher did not say there were hire purchase agreements in respect of the vehicles. Beecher was pretty worried, and he said there was not much use in all of them going down, and he asked the witness to “take the rap”, if witness went to gaol, he would get £6OOO, and O’Connor would get £2OOO, and if they both went to gaol, they would get £4OOO each. This proposal was made to shield Beecher. The witness did not think much of the proposal, and they both were advised to go to the South Island, Beecher suggesting Christchurch or the West Coast. The witness was told to go to Tolaga Bay, and to use a fictitious name, but he refused. Witness offered to assist the Finance Corporation, and he volunteered information to the police.

Cross-examined, he admitted not having denied statements given to Blackburn concerning the sale of the yacht and a book debt. Witness said he was in Wellington five weeks when the majority of the car deals went through. The conversation with Beecher about going to gaol took

place about a week after Jie sale of a car the profits of which witness and O’Connor shared. Re-examined, the witness said that he saw another witness, Pineha. in a hotel bar on the morning of the Lower Court hearing. Pineha said that Beecher had told him to give false evidence to the police. lan Langdon Prime, accountant, of Napier, said that his analysis of the operations of De Luxe Motors showed Ford received £lB4, including expenses, and O’Connor £77, during the period of operations. Cheques shown as paid to J. C. B. Motors were drawn by O'Connor, and, with one exception, were bearer cheques. The amount considered to have been paid to J. C. B. Motors was £16,570 4s. The hearing of evidence concluded late in the day. The jury retired shortly before 5 o’clock.

Conviction On Several Charges

RECOMMENDATION TO MERCY P.A. GISBORNE, November 11. After deliberating four and- threequarter hours, the jury in the Supreme Court to-night found William McLue Ford, 2'5, carpenter, Wellington, guilty of 14 charges of false pretences, and two charges of theft; and Desmond Faul O’Connor, 23, clerk, Wellington, guilty of eight charges of false pretences and one charge of theft. The jury in presenting its verdict submitted a recommendation to mercy for the accused on account of the fact that the accused were led into crime by persons not before the Court. The prisoners vyere remanded for sentence till Wednesday.