FRAUD CHARGES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23101, 28 July 1938, Page 16

FRAUD CHARGES

PROMISE OF POSITIONS alleged receipt OF MONEY COST OF COURSE OF STUDY ACCOUNTANT TO STAND TRIAL [)! V TKIjF.ORAPH —PRF.SS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Wrdnesrlay A number of advertisement:;, stating that a trainee was required for the position of service man with a reI'rigerating company, led 10 the appearance in the Magistrate's Court at Wellington to-day of Frederick - .Joseph Huddleston, alias < >ppenheim, alias Uawba tehew sky, aged :il. accountant, who laced six charges of fal«e pretences and one of attempted tal-e pretence. Huddleston pleaded not guilty and wag committed by Mr. J. L. Stout, 5..M., to the .Supreme Court for trial. Bail was allowed. Accused was charged that on or about June '■>, with intent to defraud, he obtained £-3 by falsely representing that bv taking a course of study in refrigerating and air eonditi >ning at a cost of £-0 the man would be guaranteed employment with a company called National Air Conditioners, Limited, s*id to be operating a workshop at Hamilton. Huddleston was also charged that with intent to defraud ho obtained sums from five other persons, and that he attempted to obtain I £2O from another. | Detective-Sergeant P. Doyle conj ducted the case for the police. Huddle- ! ston was represented by Mr. C. H. Arndt. Detective's Evidence Evidence of the finding of documents and letters which showed that b&'tween February 14, ]•'•>. and .June 29, accused had received £"2(7 I.js 6d ' from persons named on various lists was given by Detective S. C. Browne,. Wellington, who described visiting Huddleston's office in Vivian Street, Wellington. When asked for information concerning the company and the conditions of employment. Huddleston told witness everything was quite all right. Accused said lie knew what he was doing and was prepared to give the men positions when the time came. "J asked lor more iniormation about the company/' witness said, '"and the : meaning of the business, and accused replied: '1 don't want to discuss the matter with you at all. 1 know what I am doing. You have nothing on me. If i anv explanation i> necessary 1 will give I it 'in the proper place.' Atter warning accused. 1 told him he would be arrested on a charge of being a rogue and a vagabond in that he was imposing on private individuals. He made no reply." Documents Seized Witness paid he ha<l taken charge of all the documents found at the office and had checked over various papers. There was nothing to indicate that the company had been or was about to be formed.* The documents found consisted of large quantities of correspondence ! and letters, which had been systematic j cally filed and indexed. "There are some hundreds of the*e : letters." said witness, "and all are replies to numerous advertisements. In ! every instance the writer is making application for a position which has been advertised."