FRAUD CHARGES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23620, 2 April 1940, Page 8

FRAUD CHARGES

TWO MEN IN COURT MONEY AND SHARES INVOLVED ALLEGED FAILURE TO ACCOUNT [iJY TELKGItAI'H PKESS ASSOCIATION] CHRISTCHURCH, Monday Twenty joint charges of receiving from various persons sums of money or valuable securities on terms requiring them to account for or pay the ceeds thereof to A. D. Park and Company, Limited, or the Top Hat Finance and Agency Company and fraudulently omitting to do so were preferred against Alan Donald Park, aged 31, insurance agent, at present of the Trentham military camp, and Stephen Arthur Williamson, aged 42, salesman. The sums involved totalled £652, as well as valuables and securities of a value not stated.

Mr. J. T. Watts appeared for Park and Mr. N. S. Bowie for Williamson. Mr. A. W. Brown conducted the case for the Crown.

The alleged offences occurred between July 17, 1938, and May 12, 1939. The two . accused were also separately charged with the theft of £IOO, the property of G. Franicevitch. Also, apart from sums of money, it was alleged that they received two forestry bonds, an endowment insurance policy and 60 shares in the Wilson Cement Company. The evidence of a number of witnesses was taken this afternoon and it is expected that the remaining evidence for the Crown will occupy to-morrow. Edward Cameron Russell, of Auckland, said that he had answered an advertisement in an Auckland newspaper for a position of branch manager of what, turned out to be the Top Hat Finance and Agency Company. After interviewing Park he had accepted the position, but found that he was required to invest £IOO in the company, which he duly did. He found further that he had to pay all his expenses as branch manager. He received a cheque for £-10, but his total loss, including moncv invested, was £l6O. Evidence was also given by other witnesses of their dealings with Park and Williamson and of their allegedly being induced to buy shares in A. D. Park and Company, _ Limited, yet receiving no share certificates or receipts for the monev in some cases.