COURTS AND OFFENCES

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 22 September 1926, Page 9

COURTS AND OFFENCES

DAMAGES AWARDED. (by telegraph—^! so s lA + IO CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 21. The hearing was concluded before Mr Justice Sim of a case in which Arthur George Larking, a retired nava, officer, claimed £IOOO damages front William Leonard Walker for alleged fraudulent misrepresentation of . a wholesale fruit business, in which. plaintiff was induced to invest. There was also a claim for £1415 16s 3d on behalf of AV. L. Walker, in liquidation, which was really an alternative claim. His Honor said he was forced to the conclusion that the defendant either deliberately gave incorrect information to his accountants or connived at false information being given. It was a clear case of fraudulent conduct on his part. Plaintiff had acquired shares in a company which at the .time was insolvent and the" shares were worthless, and he was entitled to recover his £IOOO as damages, together with costs, disbursements and witnesses’ expenses.

In regard to the company’s claim, judgment would be for -the defendant on that claim, with costs £l2 12s.

PARTNERS TAKEN IN

AUCKLAND, Sept. 21. The manner in which capital was obtained for' an advertising agency in Karangahape Road was detailed in the Police Court, when a- young man, John Henry Irvine, admitted two charges of falser pretences. Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M., was on the Bench. “Early this year accused opened a small advertising agency business in Karangahape Road,” said Chief-Detec-tive Cummings.” He was collecting advertisements for theatres and wellknown business firms. He became ill and went into hospital, but had difficulty with his funds. On August 24 he advertised' for a partner, and in consequence received a reply from W. A. McCarthy.” Accused told McCarthy he had contracts for various firms, and on that representation McCarthy decided to take- a half share in the Business. He deposited £4O in ea-sli and handed over a motor truck, valued at £6O.

The two men carried on for a short time, hut McCarthy did not actually work in the business. Early this month accused, met- E. McPherson in a theatre and told him of the flourishing business he had, and that he was the sole proprietor. • Accused induced him to put £25 into the business. In all he received sums of £4O and £25 in cash and the motor truck, but he has- no assets.

On one charge accused was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment, and on the other he was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon. He was also ordered to make restitution, amounting to £65. THEFT ADMITTED. WELLINGTON, Sept. 22. Edward Ellis Edwards (23) pleaded guilty to-day to breaking and entering tile Dominion Motors, in Courtney Plaoej on two occasions and stealing accessories valued at £l7 11s 9d; also-, to -breaking and- entering C. Smith, Ltd., and -stealing clothing valued at £39 19s; also to stealing two'motor tyres, the property of persons unknown. He was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. DRUNK WHILE IN CHARGE OF CAR. 1 PALMERSTON N., Sept. 22. • Donald McLean, a labourer (25), was charged at the Court this morning with being intoxicated- while driving a motor ear, and not being in possession of a driver’s license. Counsel, entered a plea- of guilty. Senior-Sergeant O’Grady said that the case was rather a -bad one. The constable who had effected t-he arrest told him that McLean was careering along at- the- rate of 40 miles per hour. The car zig-zagged -all over Church Street and people had to get on the footpaths pretty quick'y. Counsel stated that the defendant had been suffering from pleurisy and an injury to- the back. He was driving his brother-in-law’s ear, but had no right to be doing -so. It had- been ascertained that McLean had only two drinks, and after consuming them had undoubtedly last his -head. Hie senior-sergeant added that when McLean pulled up outside a- house in the street lie fell over the side of the oar. He was discovered to- be hopelessly drunk. The Bench fined him £lO, -in default two months’ imprisonment- on the .chare© of intoxication, and: he was convicted on the charge, of driving withontl a license, also disqualified.from^obtaining a. 1 ieen.se- for a- period of 12 months. Application for the suppression of the. name was refused. THREW MAN THROUGH A WINDOW. CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 22. Robert John Leslie Coleman threw a man through a -plate glass window at Papa-nui on August 21, and to-day he was fined £3 for wilful damage and' £2 for threatening behaviour. The trouble arose through Coleman- going to a- billiard room partly intoxicated.