SUMMARY FOR EUROPE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11301, 20 December 1898, Page 6

SUMMARY FOR EUROPE.

(Continued from third page). ALLEGED EEATJJD AND CONSPIRACY. THE GENERAL EXPLORATION COMPANY. BLENHEIM, December 3. In the Supreme: Court to-day, before a special jury of twelve,, the case of the General Exploration Company v. E. Purser, in which much interest is taken, was commenced. The claim is for £36,000 for alleged fraud and conspiracy in certain mm I ing transactions. The company is incorporated in Germany for gold exploration in the colony. The . allegations, are that in 1896 and 1897 defendant combined with Charles Pielsticker, the company's attorney m the colony. and Charles Dincker, the company's agent, to, make a bogus sale to the company of several worthless mining properties in Westland, and' that defendant converted the moneys, £36,000, to his own use after paying the purchase money of the claims and options to the original owners. Pielsticker and Dincker have left the colony. The defence gives a general denial of fraud, and states that the properties were carefully tested by the company, and are valuable, and have been worked by the.company, and that the sale agreements were bona. fides.'. Messrs Bell and Myers (Wellington)-appear for the company, and Sirß. Stout and Mr Brown for the defendant. ' ■ -.... . December 7. • The' Supreme Court case, General Exploration Company v. Ed. Purser, a claim for £36,000 for alleged conspiracy and fraud in connection with the sale of Westland mining properties to the company, concluded to-day. The issue put; to the jury was:—Did defendant combine with Pielsticker (the company's attorney) and Dincker (agent), or one of them, to_ defraud plaintiffs, as alleged? The jury found for defendant, answering:in the negative. Stay of proceedings was granted till after the hearing' of a motion for a new trial was heard. •' .