A WIDOW DEFRAUDED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20251, 10 May 1929, Page 14

A WIDOW DEFRAUDED.

THEFTS TOTALLING £l9O,

MAN'S POWER OF ATTORNEY

[BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Thursday.

Charged with stealing sums totalling £l9O 15s, Corneille Hubert do Mey Dalkomade, described as a farmer, appeared before the Chief Justice, Hon. M. Myers, and a jury in the Supremo Court to-day. Tho Crown Prosecutor said a deliberate fraud had been perpetrated by accused on a widow, Jessie Gordon Butzbock, formerly of Palmerston North, but now of Wellington. She had believed him to be a reliable man. He had persuaded her to sign documents of the nature of which sho was unaware.

Allan Herbert Hornblow, solicitor, said accused came to him with a number of documents belonging to Airs. l>utz bock, including a power of attorney. He described transactions which followed in regard to certain moneys. His suspicions were aroused later, and he gat in touch with Mrs. Butzbock, who said sho did not know the nature of the docjnmcntj but thought it had something to do with a friendly society. Accused was in Christchurch at the time. Witness informed the police of tho affair, and accused was arrested on his return.

Counsel for Accused: Do you not think it would have been better to have waited until accused came back and then to have asked for his statement? Witness: Not in view of tho power of attorney.

Some discussion took place on the form of the power of attorney, His Honor remarking that lie would not hesitate for a moment in saying it was a document no solicitor should have prepared. Witness said accused had assured him the document was prepared by a friend who was an accountant.

After a retirement of 10 minutes the. jury returned a verdict of guilty.