ALLEGATIONS OF FRAUD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19027, 26 May 1925, Page 12

ALLEGATIONS OF FRAUD.

MOTOR-TRUCK DEALINGS. ! AN UNDISCHARGED BANKRUPT. Two charges of intent to defraud were preferred against Herbert Adolphus Ladbrook, aged 44 (Mr. Sellar), in the Police Courts yesterday, before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M. It was alleged that on November 15, with intent to defraud, accused obtained a Fiat motor-truck, valued at £4OO, by falsely representing he was a man of substance and the owner of a Ford one-ton truck free of any enrumberance; also, on tho same day, that ho assigned and transferred by way of mortgage the Ford truqk without the grantee's consent,, with intent to defraud. John Harold Buxton, manager for Autobuild, Limited, said accused called at tho firm's premises last November to inspect a Fiat motor-truck that had been advertised for salo and which the firm had been authorised by Cars, Limited, to [ sell. Accused did not mention that he S was an undischarged bankrupt. llobert Grant Anderson, secretary to Cars, Limited, deposed that accused agreed to buy tho truck for £4OO in monthly instalments of £33 6s 8d each, and stated he would not pay any deposit, but would give a bill-of-sale over a oneton Ford truck. Ho said this truck was his own property and was unencumbered. On this representation the salo of tho Fiat truck was agreed to, and a bill-of-sale over tho Ford truck was prepared. Accusod signed the hire-purchase agreement for the Fiat with tho name, 11. J. Ladbrook, and witness concluded this was his name. Ho did not mention being an undischarged bankrupt. Donald McKeclmie, manager for Ford Sales and Servico, Limited, Hamilton, said accused signed a hire-purchase agreement with his firm in respect to a onoton Ford truck costing £65. He was to pay a deposit of £25 and the balance under agreement. He also gave four promissory notes for £lO 6s 8(1 each as a Collateral security, tho notes to fall duo monthly from tho dato of delivery of tho truck. Sydney Cracknell, secretary of Ford .Sales and Service, said tho first two ohoqnes received from accused on 'the promissory notes wero- dishonoured, and the truck was therefore seized and the notes withdrawn. Acting-Detectivo White produced a copy of a statement mado by accused, in which ho admitted being an undischarged bankrupt. Ho had used his son's name when buying tho Ford and had not admitted it was under a bill of salo. A ploa of not guilty was entered, and accused was committed to tho Supremo Court for trial. Bail of £2OO was allowed as before.