McArthur Fined £500

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 189, 12 August 1936, Page 5

McArthur Fined £SOO

Found Guilty on Two Charges

JUDGE ACCEPTS JURY’S RECOMMENDATION Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night Pound guilty with a recommendation that he be fined and not imprisoned on two charges of circulating fake prospectuses, John William Shaw McArthur, company director, was fined £SOO in default six months’ imprisonment by the acting-Chief Justice (Sir John Reed) at the Supreme Court, Wellington, to-night. McArthur was allowed one month in which to pay the fino and released on £IOOO bail with one surety of £IOOO during,the period allowed for the payment. McArthur was found not guilty on four charges relating to the issue of fake reports or prospectuses. The jury was three and a-half hours reaching its verdict. Asked if ho had anything to say before sentence was passed, McArthur replied: “I have not.” Asked by his Honour if he could pay a substantial fine, ho replied: “Yes, your Honour." His Honour stated that the jury had looked at the case in quite a reasonable light, recognising that all the complaints made regarding the way in which McArthur manipulated moneys were not the ,subjcct of the charges before the Court, which wero of not giving full informatiou in four documents. In the circumstances the Court was justified in inflicting a fine, but, it must be substantial.

Mr H. F. O’Leary, K.C., who. with Mr E. E. Tripe, defended McArthur, was not preseut when the verdict was announced and Mr Tripe asked for time to pay, as arrangements to meet the fine would have to be made in Australia, whero McArthur’s friends were. His Honour allowed a month with a. renewal of bail with the understanding that McArthur would pay tho fine at the expiration of that period. He informed the jury that any member desiring exemption for three years could obtain it .on application. The foreman (Mr Kidney L. Leonard) thanked his Honour for the consideration shown-the jury during the trial. "We have had a jolly good time,” he said. The trial occupied* seven full .days and the jury had beeu kept together since Monday of last week. There were scores of exhibits and 131 pages of evidence.' Mr V. B. Meredith, of Auckland, and Mr C. Evans Scott prosecuted.