A CHARGE WITHDRAWN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14531, 19 November 1910, Page 9

A CHARGE WITHDRAWN.

PRODUCTION OF A RECEIPT. The case against Dane Man sen Greer, on a charge of obtaining £100 from the Portland Cement. Company by means of false pretences, was called before Mr. C. C. Kettle, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon, when an application was made by the informants to withdraw the charge. It- appears that Greer, in his capacity as manager of the Portland Cement Company, ordered: a quantity of coal from a Mr. Kerr and collected a sum of ' £150 from the company to pay for the coal. The directors Were informed that only £60 wag paid to Kerr by Greer and Mr. Kingswell, on behalf of the directors of the company, v reported ' the matter to the police and a warrant was taken out- for Greer's arrest, and was . duly executed. It now transpires,' however, that Greer holds a receipt, signed by Mr. Kerr, for the payment of £150. This fact entirely altered the aspect of the case, and when the directors of the company became aware of this, steps were taken to have the charge withdrawn. At the request of the. magistrate, Mr. Kingswell appeared at the Court yesterday to • explain . the position, and in the course of his evidence he said that at the time tie information was laid he had full reason to believe that the particulars given to him by Kerr were perfectly correct. . The production of the receipt which Greer held, brought about a change. The witness honestly believed at first that a criminal' offence had been • committed. It was on behalf of the directors of the company that he applied to have the charge withdrawn. His Worehip remarked that if Greer had been wrongly arrested he had his sympathy, but he could not grant the application for the withdrawal of the charge without going into the details of the case, and, therefore, he would withhold his decision until 9.30 o'clock this morning. Mr. J. R. Reed and Mr. ' Steadman appear for Greer, and Mr. T. Cotter and Mr. Hanna for the company.