FATHER AND SON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8886, 24 May 1892, Page 3

FATHER AND SON.

A PAINFUL CASE. At tlio Police Court yesterday morning, before Captain Harris and Mr. J. Gordon, J.P.'s, William John Robert Garrard was charged with having feloniously converted to his own use the sum of £21) 10s, entrusted to him by William George Garrard for the purpose of banking the same to the credit of the said William George Garrard. Mr. Matthews, who appeared for the prosecutor, stated that, a few days ago, another charge had been heard by the Court with reference to a dispute between the father and son. The present proceedings wero only taken at the last moment on Saturday, as it was rumoured that the sou was about to leave by the Monowai. He now understood that tlio father desired to withdraw I he proceedings, with the right of taking any further proceedings he might deem necessary. He would like the Court to understand that it was only when actually driven to it that the father had taken the action lie had done.

Mr. Cotter, for the defendant, stated that his client was most anxious to go on with the case. The utmost the father could do was to tako civil proceedings. The son contended that the money referred to was absolutely his own property. The father had first tried to obtain tho money at the point of the revolver, and then followed this up with the present proceedings. Ho would ultimately, no doubt take civil pro ceedings. The money had been in the son's name for a couple of years, and it was singular that no proceedings were taken until the son left his father's house.

Mr. Matthews said that the money had been the cause of all the disputes. The father had given the money to the son to be deposited in the father's name ; but lie had deposited it, in his own name. That was tlio proper Court in which to briny the case, inasmuch as the charge amounted to either larceny or converting to his own use.

Captain Harris said it was a pity that the matter could not be settled without the parties coming into Court with it. Mr. Cordon said it appeared that it had taken some time for this money to accumulate. It was therefore rather singular that Mr. Garrard, senior, should nob have found out before now that the money was nob placed to his cri^lit.

Mr. Matthews said that it was nob until the recent disputes arose that the father had any suspicions about the matter. The most cordial relations had previously existed between the father and son. The case was allowed to bo withdrawn.