SOLICITOR ON TRIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20794, 10 February 1931, Page 16

SOLICITOR ON TRIAL.

LOAN APPLICATIONS.

SIX CHARGES PREFERRED.

' ALLEGED FALSE STATEMENT. . STATE ADVANCES DEALINGS. Facing' six counts of aiding and abetting persons to make declarations which would amount to perjury if mado on oath, in respect of transactions in connection with the Stato Advances Office, Walter Ernest Brian Dunningham, aged 23, solicitor, of 'Auckland, was brought up for trial in the Supreme Court yesterday beforo Mr. Justice Ilerdman and a jury. Mr. V. R. Meredith conducted the case for tho Crown, accused being represented by Mr. Johnstone, Mr. Finlay and Mr. Munro. In an outline of the case for the prosecution Mr. Meredith said the charges against accused concerned declarations made in support of applications to the State Advances Office by persons in whom Dunningham had interested himself, or who had consulted tho firm in which tho young solicitor was a partner. Transaction With Painter. Regarding tho first count tho Crown alleged that Dunningham had approached t a painter, Chappell, of Mount Eden, who had a section at Point Chevalier for sale. Chappell had bought tho property on terms in 1926 and had mado application to tho Stato Advances Office for a loan. 'After waiting 18 months -without result and finding that tho instalments for the purchase of 'tho section were pressing heavily, Chappell erected a notice advising that tho .property was for salo. Dunningham, becoming awaro of Chappell's intention, approached him and offered to dispose of tho property for him. Later accused said ho had a woman buyer •who, however, required a State loan with the property. Chappell asked how he stood for a loan and Dunningham said, "Quite all right." He added that Chappell would get back the deposit and instalments ho had paid on the section. Chappell had abandoned all intention cf building on tho section, although that was hir idea 18 months previously, when he made application to the State Advances Office, continued Mr. Meredith. Chappell was given to understand that it would be all right to transfer the property and tho Government loan to the woman purchaser. Contents of a Declaration. Shortly afterwards Chappell heard from the Valuation Department asking for an explanation of tho "For Sale" notice. Accused tolc'l Chappell to seo the department's. impector and tell him the notice had been withdrawn and that Chappell •was going to proceed with his application for the loan, which he knew was not to bo for him. Dunningham was well aware of this. Chappell's wife, remarked tho prosecutor, was not happy about arrangements and asked Dunningham if it were quite the right thing and he replied, "It is quite all right;'dq not worry," and added that if anyone got into difficulties it would be him. Mr. Meredith said Chappell and his wife signed a declaration in support of a loan application, not realising that the declaration affirmed that they were intending to build and live on tho property. That was not true. The arrangement between Dunningham and Chappell ,was that the section was to Le sold. Detectives Overhear Conversation. Chappell claimed that he did not know what the document contained, as Dunningham never explained. After the State Advances Office had granted a loan in Chappell's name. the detectives began to make inquiries. One evening in August, 1930, they established themselves in a room adjoining one in which Dunningham was interviewing Chappell and his wife. The detectives took longhand verbatim notes of. the conversation, which lasted two hours. Mr. Meredith also cited a resume of the evidence to be tendered in support of the remaining charges. Evidence was taken at great length and the case for the Crown was not completed when the. Court rose for the day. The trial is expected, to last four or fivo days.