ALLEGED CONSPIRACY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18995, 17 October 1923, Page 8

ALLEGED CONSPIRACY.

SEA CAPTAIN’S MONEY. “ DOCTORED ” LIQUOR. ALLEGED. STRANGE SYDNEY CASE. A retired captain of the Cunard Line, who has a fine war record, told a pitiable story in the Central Police Court in Sydney last week of how he had lost a valuable estate in the New Hebrides, and declared that a man had been “doping” his drink, so that his memory had almost gone. At the conclusion of a whole day's hearing, Charles Edwin Jones, aged 31. and James Thomas Jones, aged 41, alias G. R. Reid, alias March, alias Marshall, were committed for trial on a charge of having, between August 17, 1922, and July 15, 1923, conspired to cheat and defraud Arthur Henry Greaves and James Francis Thomas, of large sums of money. Mr Hailey M‘Laughlin appeared for Charles Jones. Detective M liae told the court that on July 15 last he saw James Jones in Pitt street, North Sydney, and told him he had been looking for him in connection with a Captain Warren, and wanted to know where the captain was. Jones said he didn’t know, as he hadn't seen the captain for a week. “You know that statement is incorrect,” said the detective. “You have been keeping him in a room in North Sydney, and you have sent him over to the city this morning to try and get him on a boat to take him to America.” “You seem, to know all about it,” replied Jones. Asked by the detective if he had been doing business with a solicitor named Thomas, Jones denied it, but the solicitor subsequently identified Jones as the man who, under the name of G. R. Reid, had obtained money from him on behalf of a Captain Warren. James Francis Thomas stated that in October, 1922, James Thomas Jones cam© to his office in Elizabeth street, and asked him if he could help him raise a loan for a feend of his—a Captain Warren—who had valuable cocoa.nut estates in the new Hebrides. Witness advanced £SO. Jones then said there was further property near Tumut, which he could get cheap for the captain, who proposed to put his nephew on it. Later on, Charles Jones called on witness, and introduced himself as Captain Warren’s nephew. He said he was sick of loafing about Sydney, and was anxious to get up on to Brooklyn Station, near Tumut. Witness arranged with Mr Leon Cohen to let Charles Jones go on to the station as a tenant, and Thomas advanced James Jones £25 to help pay for certain work on the station, and to tide him over Christmas. Ho also gave Jones a promissory note for £SOO, which was taken away and returned, signed “R E. Warren.” “ CAPTAIN’S NEPHEW.” Leon L. Cohen, another solicitor, stated that Charles Jones called on him at Jris* office, and stated that he was Captain War'ren’s nephew. He told witness that the captain owned estates in the Now Hebrides, which he was selling, and would then be able to settle all accounts. Jones informed Cohen that he was a Canadian, and expected to receive money from his father’s estate. Arthur Henry Greaves, owner of Brooklyn Station Ravine, near Tumut, said that the station comprised some 9000 odd acres. A Mr Ralph Abrahams was mortgagee over it, and had the right to sell, and Mt Leon Cohen was his solicitor. JRalph Abrahams stated that in October, 1922, James Jones called on him and said his name was Reid, and brought with him a letter of introduction over the signature of E. E. AYarren. He said he cam© from Captain Warren, and wanted to know the price of Brooklyn Station, and if the sale could be effected, he would be on a commission. The following month Charles Jjones called on him, stating that ho was Captain Warren’s nephew, and the, purchase of the station was discussed. Jones said his uncle was putting him on the property, but ho asked witness not to make the price too high, as the captain would not go to more than £2003, as he was very close-fisted. AVitness and Cohen fixed up the agreement for the ealo and accepted a promissory note for £SOO as part payment, bearing the signature of E. E. AYarren. When the note was presented it was returned dishonoured. ALLEGED VICTIM’S STORY.

Captain Ernest Edward Warren, a retired master mariner, late of the Cunard Line, said that Charles Jones was no nephew of his. With regard to James Jones, the captain said h© had known him for two years. They had moved about a number of places together. Last July Jones arranged for him to hay© a passage to America, but he did not go. He never gave either of the defendants power to sell Brooklyn Station. James Jones had power over him somehow, and he signed a number cf sheets of blank paper. He was as sure a-s night followed day that James Jones gave him something in his whisky and soda, a® he always felt funny after taking it. That was why his memory of what had happened since he met Jones was so poor. Witness went on to say that at one time he owned a valuable property in the New Hebrides, but the title deeds had been lost or stolen. At any rate, he did not know where they were to-day. When shown the papers in connection with the sale and transfer of Brooklyn Station, Captain Warren said he hod never seen tho papers before, and the signatures on them were not his.