CONSPIRACY ALLEGED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21251, 3 August 1932, Page 14

CONSPIRACY ALLEGED

LAND .FOR GLASSWORKS CHEQUE FOR £I2OO DRAWN TWO MEN FACE TRIAL Charges of conspiring with others to defraud George Montaguo Poyner, farmer and busliman, of Waiotira, of £I2OO, and of stealing £I2OO from Poyner, on August 21, 1931, Xvere preferred against Clifford Spencer Dahlin, aged 37, and Reginald Clarenco Williams, aged 45, in the Supreme Court yesterday before Mr. Justice Smith. Tho alleged offences were said to have taken place in connection with a supposed sale of land at Ponsonby for tho erection of glassworks. Both accused were arrested in Australia and extradited to New Zealand last May. Poyner said about August 19, 1931, he was visited by two men who said their names were Thomas and Williams. Thomas said, "I have come to sco if I can sell you four blocks of land. A big Belgian firm"—and some other country witness could not remember—"is going to build a glassworks round Ponsonby." Ho said the land belonged to a widow who had gone to England and the money would be sent Home. Tho glassworks must have theso four blocks before the project could proceed. Thomas, said witness, said if witness would buy tho sections ho, Ibomas, would stand in with him and share the profits. Thomas and Williams stayed the night with him. Nothing was fixed up that night. On August 21 he met Thomas at tho Waiotira railway station. Williams also was there with a car and drove them to tho Settlers* Hotel, Whangarei. There Thomas introduced him to a man named Power and another man, supposed to como from Belgium. Witness did not remember his name. Alleged Conversation Power said, "I believe you bought these four blocks of land off Thomas?" Witness said, "I have, in a sort of way." At that time he had not made any definite arrangement. Power said, "I'll give you £75 on each block on your bargain." Witness said, "That is no good. I want £150." Power replied, "You are a terrible man to deal with." Thomas said he would give Power a cheque for £2BOO if witness would give Power a cheque for £I2OO. Thomas wrote a cheque and handed it to Power. Witness did the same. Power then wrote a cheque for, witness thought, £4600 and handed it to witness. The extra £6OO was the profit witness had made on tho sections, being £l5O for each section. _ Witness said ho asked Thomas if Power's cheque was all right. Thomas took the cheque and, after assuring him that it was in order, kept, it, saying" they would go to the post office and post it to witness' credit at tho National Bank of New Zealand at Dargaville. He thought Power went out with tho cheque for £I2OO. Thomas and witness called at another hotel. Thomas excused himself, saying ho was going to the post office, and returned a few minutes later. Williams then called with tho car and drove them to tho Waiotira railway station. Power was not with tlicm. Thomas said he would send a wire saying when ho could see witness again. Next morning witness telephoned tho bank at Dargaville to slop payment of the cheque, but ho was too late. On August 25 and 29 he received telegrams fi'om Thomas saying everything was all right. He had heard no moro about the sale and seen no more of the cheque for £4600. Ho had visited Auckland and searched for the sections. Identification Parade In reply to counsel for Dalilin, witness said ho saw Dalilin in an identification parade at Whangarei, but coulj not identify him as Power. To counsel for Williams, witness said when the constable at Whangarei said they had caught one of the men in Australia, that was the first time witness had hoard tho name of Williams. Thomas was the only man who took part in the transactions at witness' house, and until visiting Auckland witness knew only the names of Thomas and Power. Witness admitted selecting, at the identification parade at Whangarei, a man not connected in any way with the charge. William Grinlinton, clerk at the National Bank of New Zealand, Dargaville, said he recognised a cheque, produced, as one for £I2OO drawn by Poyner and payable to 11. Power. The cheque was brought to the bank by Dalilin, who took £4OO in cash and had £BOO remitted to tho Bank of New Zealand, Symonds Street, Auckland. Ho signed the application for remittance as H. Power, giving an address in Portland Road, Remuera. He was very well dressed, wore a dark suit, bowler bat and leather coat, and Smoked a cigar all the time ho was in the bank. Eric William Bird, another clerk at tho National Bank at Dargaville, identified ,Dalilin as the man who presented the cheque. Evidence given in the Police Court by H. B. Armitage, manager of the bank, was read. This stated that witness had selected Williams at the identification parade as the man who presented tho cheque. Four Men at Waipu Katherine Jessie McKenzie, proprietress of an accommodation house at Waipu, said that on August 18, 1931, four men camo to her house and gave the names of Power, Thomas, Hammond and Vallanco. She did not know them by their individual names, but Dahlin was one of the men; Three days later they left. Whilo there they paid for two telephone toll calls, ono to Waiotira and another to Auckland. Harold G. Grayling, accountant at the Symonds Street branch of the Bank of New Zealand, recounted the transferring of £BOO from tho National Bank at Dargaville and the opening of an account by H. Power. He identified Dahlin as Power. Detective-Sergeant Mcllugh said he went to Sydney in October,-1931, to bring back Williams, who had been arrested and granted bait, but he absconded from baii. Chief-Detective Hammond said ho saw the two accused at tho Central Police Station, Sydney, on May 12. 1932. On that day they wore extradited to New Zealand. Ho had known them in Auckland. In May, 1931, they wero in business in Auckland and in August of that year were living, with their families, in'the same house at Grey Lynn. To counsel for Dahlin witness said he knew Dahlin had been convicted of hookmaking and fined £75, which had not been paid. To counsel for Williams, he said he knew the official assignee in Wellington had been inquiring for Williams. The hearing was adjourned until this morning.