ALLEGED FRAUD.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVII, Issue 120, 23 May 1903, Page 4

ALLEGED FRAUD.

AN EX-NEW ZEALANDER IN

VOLVED.

London, March 20,

Ab Bow street Police Court laifc Monday, Mr Charles Richard Valentine, sometime dairy expert to the New Zealand Government, appeared before Mr Marsham, in answer to a summons issued on the complaint of the Official Receiver in Bankruptcy charging him with not fully discovering to the trustee administering iiis estate for the benefit of hia creditors the whole of the cash in his 'hands at the date of a receiving ordar made against him on May 23rd, 1901, with intent to defraud, and with commrfcing other offences against the Debtors Act o? 1869. Mr Gill, for the prosecution, said the defendant started a meat juice company bearing his came. This brought him into conflict with the Valentine Meat Juice Company, which obtained an injunction against him in July, 1900. The defendant was ordered to pay £2800 costs, and he became bankrupt, the Valentino Meat J uico Company being his principal creditor. Tho defendant stated that his liabilities were £0849 and his assets £5506. As a matter of fact, his assets were at first £122, but other property was discovered, and realised £786. His lia bilitie3 were found to exceed £10 000. During the course of tho bankruptcy proceedings, it was ascertained that the defendant intended to appeal to the House of Lords against the decision" given against him in the action brought by the Valentine Meat Juice Company.and for this purpose had deposited £200. Defendant was asked where he got this money from, and said it was supplied by a friend, whose name he declined to give. Subsequently he stated that it had been advanced to him by Mr Pearson, of Pearson and Rutter, of Manchester. At that time Mr Pearson was in New Zealand. On his return he denied that there was such a transaction. The defendant, it appeared, had drawn a cheque for £300 in favor of Pearson and Rutter, and was supposed to have forwarded it to them. As a matter of fact, it was cashed over the counter in London, and the defendant tad the proceeds, which included two notes of £100 each, which he deposited in the House of Lords in connection with hia appeal. It was further alleged against the defendant that he caused the petty cash book to be,interlined in such a way as to make it ap pear that Pearson and Rutter had received £400, whereas no such payment bad been made. The interlineations were made in different ink to that used in the body of the book, and so were the alterations it becamo necessary to make in the totals of the various columns.

Formal evidence having been given, the case was adjourned, Mr Marsham fixing the defendant's bail at two sureties in £200 each.

[A cable message published in a recant issue announced that Valentine was sentenced to four months' imprisonment.]