CHARGE OF THEFT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21325, 28 October 1932, Page 15

CHARGE OF THEFT

ALLEGED EXCHANGE DEALS SALESMAN IN COURT COMMITTED FOR TRIAL Allegations of theft, from Herbert Henson of £7O on August 4 and £IOO on September 6 were made against Albert Edward Cooper, salesman, aged 47, in the Police Court yesterday. Tt was alleged that accused had obtained money from Henson for the purpose of dealing in exchange. Accused was represented by Mr. Aekins, and pleaded not guilty. Detective N. W. Bayliss, who interviewed aecusod in Wellington, said accused told him that he had had no dealings with Henson, but with a Mrs. Atkinson, who lived next door. When accused was arrested he had papers in his possession which indicated that he was about to leav© for Sydney. Henson said he first met accused about three months ago with Mrs. Atkinson and accused had outlined a scheme for dealing in exchange. It consisted of purchasing in New Zealand English and New Zealand notes and then disposing of them in Australia. Witness gave accused the two sums of money mentioned and it was understood that returns from "the transactions were to be regularly distributed. He received only one return and eventually his suspicions were aroused by accused's absence, and he informed the police. Elizabeth Atkinson, widow, said she had known accused for 17 or 13 years. She and accused and Henson had discussed schemes for making money through the exchange rate. She had received £45 from Henson and she handed it to accused, who gave her a receipt and £3 change. Later accused said he had received the balance of the £7O from Kenson. At a still later date, accused asked witness if sho thought Henson would give her another £IOO. In September witness visited accused's flat one morning and accused and Henson went away for about half an hour. Then accused came back and told witness he had got the £IOO from Henson. He had a roll of English notes in his hand. In reply to Mr. Aekins, witness said she had discussed the project with Henson before accused had met Henson, but it was her faith in accused which had led her to advise the carrying out of the scheme. The investment of the money was left to accused's discretion.

Robert Hunter Brown, a bank teller, gave evidence that on September 6 the sum of £7O in English notes had been sold to the one person. These cost £75 19s. Evidence as to the exchange rates on English, New Zealand and Australian notes was given by Sidney Frederick Mackie, a bank clerk. Detective H. C. Much said that when accused was arrested on October 17 he had £lO 16s in his possession. The magistrate, Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., declined to consider Mr. Aekins' suggestion that there was no case to answer. "There is too much between the lines in the evidence already before me," he said. Accused was committed to the Supreme Court for trial, the question of bail being adjourned until this morning.