CHARGE OF FRAUD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21554, 27 July 1933, Page 12

CHARGE OF FRAUD

OVERSEAS PASSAGES SUPREME COURT TRIAL CASE FOR PROSECUTION A commencement was mado in tho Supreme Qourt yesterday of the hearing of charges of fraud and of theft against Harold Bradley Brownrigg (Mr. E. T. Field). Tho charges were that 011 November 28 last, with intent to defraud, ho obtained £l7 from It. G. K. Manning by falsely representing that there existed a limited liability company known as Overseas Passages, Limited, and that tho company could supply him with a passage to England for £25;and that having received £l7 from Manning on terms requiring him to pay it for passage money or refund it to Manning, he fraudulently converted it to liis own line and so committed theft. Tho case is being taken by Mr. Justice Herdman, Mr. Meredith, Crown Prosecutor, said accused had represented that a certain company could obtain passages to England for £25, whereas there was no such passage available, no such company and 110 boat. In tho case of Manning, it was a cruel fraud, for 110 was a man anxious to get back to England, and ho had given up his position and put his savings into this. Now 110 had lost his position and his money, and was practically destitute. Ot&er Case 3 The accused mado use of a contract note which had all tho appearance of being an authoritative document, said Mr. Meredith. There was in it a clause requiring the company to refund the money if it could not find the passage. Thero wore other cases, to which reference would bo made to show what had been going on. Air. Meredith proceeded to outlino tho evidence that would bo given, and the explanation offered by the accused to the police when they first approached him in December. In April ho admitted ho had 110 money and was on relief work. Ho said he would refund tho £l7 given him by Manning as soon as ho was able. Ho had 110 boat in view, but was still negotiating with shipping companies. Erwin Sharman Malony, assistantregistrar of companies in Auckland, said thero was no record of the registration of a company known as Overseas Passages, Limited. Farm Labourer's Evidence A farm labourer now on relief work, Bonald George Kidby Manning, said that in November of last year he came to Auckland from Whakatane for a holiday. At the pictures he saw an advertisement for a passago to England for £25, and subsequently called at tho address given in Campbell's Buildings. He saw accused, who said a boat was leaving about tho end of February. Accused asked for a £5 deposit and tho balance to bo paid 28 days before the boat sailed. Witness paid £l7. Witness understood that accused was tho representative of a company. Witness was getting £1 a week on a farm, and gave up his work. Ho gave accused a bicycle to pay tho balance of the fare, but witness eventually sold it himself. He saw accused on numerous occasions, but could get no satisfaction about the sailing of the boat. Ho wrote offering to tako £l2 back and leave accused £5, but nothing happened. Later, when he called accused always was too busy to seo him or away in Hamilton. Tho trial will be continued this morning.