ALLEGATIONS OF FRAUD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20116, 29 November 1928, Page 12

ALLEGATIONS OF FRAUD

TOTAL OF THIRTEEN CHARGES. LARGE AMOUNT INVOLVED. UNUSUAL STORY OF FARMER. FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WANG AN UI. Wednesday. An unusual story was told in tho Supremo Court to-day, when Ceorgo Robert Hinch appeared beforo Mr. Justico Smith to ajiswer 13 charges of fraudulent misrepresentation, forgery, uttering and theft, involving approximately £2IOO, and also charges of altering a promissory note from £26o' to £.1400 and uttering it to Ronald Hendrich Nitschke, a farmer, of Bonny Glen, near Marton, from whom it was alleged the other money was also obtained. So long was tho indictment that the reading of it occupied 20 minutes.

Tho Crown Prosecutor said accused becarno friendly with Nitsohko in 1924, and told him a story of having been very wealthy and having lost his money. In 1926 accused was employed by a WangaWii debt collecting agency and told Nltschko that his employer had to proviso a bond for him, which was being "(locked" from his wages. lie asked for lielp and £IOO was given to him. In June, 1927, accused said ho was taking over tho business and asked for £3OO, with which ho said ho would give shards in tho New Zealand Commercial Association, tho profits to bo halved. In July accused told a story of a gilt-edged investzment which would yield a profit of £l5O, and Nitschke was induced to part with another £250. He gavo Nitschko a promissory nolo for £3OO, endorsed with tho nam*! of Pratt, who Hinch said was managing director of the association and a very wealthy man. Tho same day accused askicd for £3OO for an investment in Wangaiiuip and this amount was handed over.

Rich Return Alleged. The next transaction was in December, when Hindi was given £55 to put into another deol. Later Nitschko asked whether the& several investments were safe, and was assured they wero, accused stating tho l*ilance-sheet would be available in March. Nitschke, ho said, would bo astounded «it tho figures. 110 stated tho profits hacf been reinvested. In evidence Nitschko said in January last accused loft for Palmerston North, whero ho said ho was taking over a branch of tho association, and asked for £745 to invest in several speculations. This sum was given to accused. When witness asked about tho promised balancesheet accused said it was not ready yet, and after explaining how things stood received another £4OO for a deal ho said would return £lls in three weeks.

Witness told acruscd in July he was short of money ami accused gave him n cheque for £l5O, promising to return £SOO at the beginning of August and a further £IOOO tho samo mceilh. Theso amounts wero not forthcoming, however, and accused said ho had put tho money back into tho business. Witness then offered him ;i deed which accused would not accept, saying it was his death warrant, and accused offered a promissory noto for £I4OO. This was not paid, and Pratt when approached also refused to pay it. Desiro to Help Accused.

Cross-examined Nitscliko said ho had been prompted by a desire to help accused, but it did not occur to him that the business was being douo on risky lines.

Counsel: Don't you realise you are telling a remarkable story ? Witness: Yes, but it is true. Evidence by Mrs. Nitschke corroborated her husband's statements. Tho case has not finished.