FALSE PRETENCES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20156, 21 July 1927, Page 7

FALSE PRETENCES.

WELL-KNOWN FIRM CHARGED SIX MEN IMPLICATED. LARGE SUMS OF MONEY INVOLVED. Mr J- R- Bartholomew, S.M.. sitting in the City Police Court yesterday heard a number of charges of false pretences against men well-known in business circles in Dunedin. Alexander Campbell, James Shaw Campbell, Samuel Campbell, Charles James Thomas Alexander Lowery, and Frederick William Bamfield, were charged with, on December 22, 1925, at Dunedin, with intent to defraud, they did obtain from the Otago and Southland Finance Corporation (Ltd.), the sum of £436. by falseh representing that Robert Scott Gray had purchased a new Delage motor car, valued at £650, and that the said Robert Scott Gray had paid a deposit of £215 as part payment of the ■aid car. ’ ... The same accused were charged with, on February 15, 1926, at Dunedin, with intent to defraud, they did obtain from tho Otago and Southland Finance Corporation (Ltd.), the sum of £515 by falsely representing that James Shaw Campbell bad purchased a new Star motor cat, valued at £775, and that the said_ James Shaw Campbell had paid a _ deposit of £260 as part payment of the said car. The same accused were charged with, on February 15, 1926, at Dunedin, with intent to defraud, they did obtain .from' the Traders’ Finance Corporation "(Ltd.), the turn of £515, by falsely representing that Alexander Campbell had purchased a new Star motor car, valued at £775, and that the said Alexander Campbell bad paid a deposit of £260 as part payment of the said car.

The same accused were charged with, on February IS, 1926, at!Dunedin, with intent to defraud, they did obtain from the Traders’ Finance Corporation (Ltd.), the sum of £565, by falsely representing that Samuel Campbell had purchased a new Star motor car, valued at £B6O, and that the (aid Samuel Campbell had paid a deposit of £285 as part cayment of the said car. The same accused were charged with, on March 26, 1926,- at Dunedin, with intent to defraud, they did obtain from the and Southland Finance Corporation (Ltd.), the sum of £515, by falsely representing that Charles James Lowery had purchased a new Star motor, car, valued at £575, and that the said Charles James Lowery had paid a deposit of £260 as part payment of the said car. , The same accused were charged with, on March 26, 1926, at Dunedin, with intent to defraud, they did obtain from the Otago and Southland Finance Corporation (Ltd,), the sum of £330, by falsely representing that Walter Morris Lowe had purchased a new. Star motor oar, valued at £495, and that the said Walter Morris Lowe had paid a deposit of £165 as part payment of the said car.

It was agreed to take all the charges together. Chief Detective Cameron conducted the prosecution. Mr W. G. Hay appeared for Bamfield. Mr W. L. Moore for the three Campbells, and Mr W. Ward for Lowery. OPENING STATEMENT. Chief Detective Cameron said be proposed to show in evidence that each of the defendants, if not actually participants in the individual offences, were parties to some of them, and that they had some material dealings with the companies concerned which brought them, if not as principals, as aiders in all the charges. Prior to June, 1025, Alexander Campbell, James Shaw Campbell, and Samuel Campbell were in business in the motor trade. They were well-known traders. In June, 1925, a company was formed, known ae the New Zealand Motor and Engineering Company, with a capital of £IO,OOO in £1 snares. ' The books would be produced to show that the Campbells took 6000 shares, Lowery 3000, and Bamfield 1000. Mr Koid, ‘an accountant, would state that the books disclosed the position of the company—namely, that the Campbell Bros, paid £1321 in cash out of the £6OOO. The balance was said to be made up in stock from cars and accessories, the value of

■which they assessed at £4700, from the previous business. Nothing was paid so ( far as Lowery’s 3000 shares were concerned, and Bamfield paid up his £IOOO. In actual cash the company started with £2321. At the commencement A. Campbell, Lowery, and Bamfield were appointed directors. Mr Hay; We are here to answer specific charges. Is this opening statement relevant to the charges?

Chief Detective Cameron: I am showing the position of the company and the ihtention to defraud. The Magistrate: If so, it is relevant. Chief Detective Cameron- said the direo-

tors were A. Campbell and Lowery, with Bamfield as chairman. Later, J. fihaw Campbell and Samuel Campbell were appointed directors. The company went into liquidation on March 19, 1927. Just

before that the company had increased its capital by , £2OOO, offering shares to the public to that amount. The shares ■were not taken up by the public, and were subsequently taken over by Bamfield. A call was made on the shares. Mr Hay; That has nothing to do with the charges. The suggestion is that as the company wanted money these men are criminals. The Magistrate: The police wish to show there was intent to defraud. Mr Hay: If a man is hard up for money there is no intent to defraud. The Magistrate: I cannot exclude the evidence at present. Chief Detective Cameron said the 2000

shares were taken up by Bamfield, and a call of Is a share was made. The call

was not paid, and in the minute book the shares were shown as having been forfeited. On March 10, after having advertised for an accountant to keep the books, Bamfield was appointed account ant at £6 per week. Up to that time he had been receiving £3 IBs per week from the company for keeping the books. On March 27, 1927, the payment of salary was made retrospective as from September 1, 1925, which gave Bamfield a credit of £204. A sum of £IOO out of the £204 was placed to his credit against the shares that had been forfeited, this being done, one would suppose, to safeguard his interest in the company. Mr Hay: You ought to state the facts, not what you suppose. Chief Detective Oimeron went on to say that on March 13, 1827, the Commercial

Bank, with which the company dealt, ap pointed a receiver. The notice was received on March 16—the date on which Bamfield had been appointed accountant. These facts showed in a general way the finances of tho company. As for the different charges, it would be shown that on December 22, 1925, a fictitious sale was put through the books

of tho company in the name cf R. S. Gray, and on that sale an advance of £455 was obtained from the Otago and Southland Finance Corporation. Grav would be called and would say he merely signed blank

P.N.’s. and the rest of tho matter was fixed up in the office by the defendants. II would also bo shown by Mr Malcolm Stevenson that, the car was sold later to him, and he paid cash for it. On February 15. 1926, another fictitious sale was put through tho books in the name of J. Shaw Campbell, and an ad-

vance of £SXS was obtained from the Otago and Southland Finance Corporation. This

car was later on sold to W. A. Ross. On the date of the advance it was paid over to the account of Campbell Bros., and it was suggested that the amount was paid by them to meet payments for cars they had previously ordered in their name On tho same date another fictitious sale was put through in tho name of Alex Campbell, and a similar advance of £515 was received from tho Traders' Finance Corporation. On the date of its receipt that amount was paid over to Campbell Bros.’ account after it had been put through tho company’s hank. The car in this case was sold to R. A. Wynn at a subsequent date. On the same date, another fictitious salo was nut through the books in the name of Barrmel Camn'mll. and en advance of £665 was renewed from the

Trader®’ Finance Corno-etion. The amount was paid to OamnVdl Bros.' r eo r-* o'f-r passing through the hank, 'cco-d : ng tn tho records, that car iva- mM tn M ; - Durand

On March 1, 1925. another fwtiFous sale was put through the hooks in the name of Lowery, and an advance of £515 was obtained from the Otago and Southland Fi; nee Corporation. On the date of its receipt, the amount war. paid over to

Campbell Bros.’ account. There was a doubt as to what had become of that car. Its number, A 555, did not appear in the register, but 655 was shown to have been sold to J. Fletcher. _ It was not known, however, whether this was the same car. . .

On March 6, 1926, another fictitious sale was put through, in the name of Clifford Peel, for a motor lorry, on which an advance of £465 was obtained from the Otago and Southland Finance Corporation. On the date on which tho money was paid over a sum of £479 was paid by the company to the account of Campbell Bros., and the records would show, although they had been altered, that the lorry was subsequently sold to Mr Vincent, of Timaru. On March 26, 1926, another fictitious sale was put through in the name of Clifford Peel, and an advance of £330 was obtained from the Traders Finance Corporation. It had been found that the car in this case was still held by the Customs. On the same date, another fictitious sale was put through in the name of William Low, and an advance of £330 was obtained. Low would he called to sav that he merely signed a blank form. As a servant of the company he did what he was told to do, and he signed a hire-purchase agreement and pif ’ B . That car was the same car as waa’mentioned in the fictitious case in which Clifford Peel was concerned, when an advance was obtained from the Otago and Southland Finance Corporation. Therefore, the two sales were put through the books, as the one car, which was in the Customs. , , On October 6, 1020, a sale of a new car was made to Mrs Olive Smith, of Dunedin, and an advance of £365 was obtained. Mrs Smith would say that the car she purchased was not a new car, but one that had been purchased by Clifford Peel two years previously from the defendant A. Campbell. There was no record of that transaction having gone through the cash book. That amount was obtained from the Traders’ Finance Corporation. None of the fictitious sales had been recorded as sales through the sales’ register. On November 26, 1928, the Otago and Southland Finance Corporation thought that things were not quite right in connection with the transactions, and made a demand for the settlement of all outstanding P.N.’s, with the result tha the Campbells promptly paid over the amount of £903 4s s d. It would he shown from the records, by Mr Reid, that as an offset of the amount found by the Campbells two Star trucks were taken over from the company of the value of £905, which, the police suggested, formed part ot the assets that might have gone to the creditoMr Hay; Has that anything to do with the charges? Chief Detective Cameron said the total advances by the Otago and Southland Corporation on these transactions was £2260, which, amount had all been met. The total advances by the v Traders Finance Corporation amounted to £1773 —only part of which had been met. Evidence was then called, and the Magistrate remarked that as the case promised to be lengthy the defendants could be seateo. THE EVIDENCE.

George Walter Reid, accountant, said that under instructions of a meeting of creditors of the New Zealand Motor and Engineering Company, he made an investigation of tha company s books, ihe books, numbering eleven, were produced. Witness went on to say that he had prepared a report. He had examined the books to ascertain how the company had arranged its finance. He found that the company had been registered Mr Moore objected. The question of the formation of the company had no bearing on the present charges. Tho Chief Detective said that as the question was one of fraudulent financing, that of the company’s finances was releHis Worship decided that the matter was relevant, and after Mr Hay had asked that the objections be recorded, the witness continued. He found, he said, that the company was registered with a share capital of £IO,OOO in shares of £1 each. those shares were taken up by the three Campbells (6000 jointly), Bamfield (1000), and Lowery (3000). ihe amounts paid in cash on these shares were: Campbell brothers, £1321 Is 4d; Bamfield, £1000; in three separate amounts. .... m Mr Hay again objected. There was no need, he said, to quote separate references as to the pages of the books in which the entries were made, and so on. Chief Detective Cameron said it would save time later and be a convenience to tho Crown Prosecutor if tho magistrate decided that a prima facie case had been made out. Tho Magistrate agreed with the chief detective. Witness said he had been unable to trace any record of Lowery having paid anything on his sbar.s. The amounts paid by Camp bell Brothers were recorded to the credit of their share account. The amounts paid by Bamfield had not been entered in the share register, nor was there anything entered there as having been paid by Lowery. There was an endorsement on Bamfield’s account in the share register relating to a mortgage over: 1000 shares Entries in the private journal showed transfers made from current account in the name of Campbell Brothers to the credit of their share account of £4678 18s Bd, that being the amount required to make their 6000 shares fully paid. In the share ledger there was an endorsement on Lowery’s account respecting a mortgage. The register showed that Lowery had mortgaged his shares to a man named ..estland. 'lhe net result was that the company started operations with a paid-up capital of filfiOO, of which £2321 Is 4d was paid in actual cash. There was a resolution in the books later that the capita) be increased to £12,000 by. the creation of 2000 shares of £1 each. The directors’ minute book showed that efforts were mado to dispose of shares to three men, but no shares were taken by them. La:et rcco:. showed that the 2000 shares were oueret! to members of the company, and that Campbell Brothers and Lowery declined to accept them. Bam.ield applied lor them, and they were allotted to him. The books showed that nothing was then paid on the shares. On August 26 a call of Is per share was made on the 2000 shares, and was payable on August 51. A resolution, dated September 3, showed that it had been resolved to notify Bamfield that unless the £IOO due by him in calls was paid by Sep tembor 26 the shares would be liable to forfeiture. A resolution dated September 8 declared the shares forfeited. A note of tne forfeiture was entered on the register of shareholders. A resolution was carried on August 2b at a directors' meeting that ap plications be called for the position of ac countant to the company. The records showed that Bamfield had been appointed accountant at a salary of £312 per annum, end that later cn he was not:fied that Mr H. H. Sykes had been appointed receiver m terms of the debenture held by tne bank over the com iany s asset.-. Mr Moore said that what the witness was coming to happened subsequently to the dates to which the charges referred and could not have any bearing on them. Chief Detective Cameron submitted that he was entitled to show the position of the company. The company was not solvent at the time it went into these transactions, and therefore there was evidence of intent to defraud.

His Worship s»Jd what was objected to was evidence as to the position of the company some 18 months later. Chief Detective Cameron: Some of these fictitious transactions had already been put tnrough. His Worship said he did not think that evidence as to the position of the company at a date considerably after the dates referred to in the charges could be admitted The witness vent on to say that the company’s books showed that from the start the company had worked on a bank overdraft on loans and mortgages from various persons. The purchases ran into large figures, and the nooks showed that the company had been unable to pay for them. The private ledger showed that Campbell Bros, had paid £9781 lOs 7d for shipments of ,a..: , Repayments totalling £5990 Os lid had been made by the company up to Juno 20, 1920, leaving £3785 9s 8d still owing. The profit and loss account for the year ended Juno 30, 1926, showed a loss of £3072 15s 5d for the first year. A balance sheet at the same period showed that the indebtedness of the company was: —Creditors for cars and goods supplied and sundries, £12.409 12s lOd; creditors for mortenges and advances (bank overdraft £5128 10s 7d, Adams Bros.’ mort ace £3OOO. C. Callander £IOOO, •). Jackson Pmdie £3OOO, Campbell Bros. £3785 9s Bd, loan accounts £2022 12s), £18.530 18s 3d- making a grand total ; ,f £30.010 11s Id. The assets side showed •ash in hand £2 os, bills re-eivabl" £8 If,? 10d. book debts £4715 3s Bd. a total if £1720 10s fid. Other items on the a-sets side were: —Stock of ears £l3 791 11s. and stock of sundries £OO7 5s 3d. total £18,158 ICs 3d. U appeared to him that the provision of available funds would depend on realising these stocks on a cash basis. He found from the books that after Juno 30, 1926, the company continued to raise

funds by borrowing money. The following further loans were obtained: —July 22, 1026, from J. Jackson Purdie, £1000; August 20, 1926, from John Brook, £428 Bs. The balance sheet of June 30, 1926, showed the following loan accounts: —A. C.. £329 12s; C. P., £240 18s; S. C., £361 12s; C. P.. £339 9s; J. S. C., £329 12a; C. J. L„ £375 10s; R. S. G., £272 12s; G. E. C-, £132; W. M. L., £240 18s. Witness produced an agreement on the hire purchase system for the sale of a car to K. 8. Gray, also promissory notes to R. S. Gray and endorsed F. W. Bamfield and C. J. Lowerv for the New Zealand Motor and Engineering Co., and also endorsed by the Otago and Southland Finance Corporation. He also produced proposals for the insurance of the car. Documents relating to the sale of a car to M. Stevenson were also produced. The private ledger showed an account headed “R. S. Gray,” who was credited with a cash advance of £435. Witness was unable to find any record in the sales register of the sale of a car to Gray or of a deposit having been paid by hirp. The cash book showed an entry of £435 received from R. S. Gray. There was no entry showing that the amount had come from the Otago and Southland Finance Corporation. Witness produced a hire purchase agreement respecting a sale to J. Shaw Campbell on February 15, 1926, bearing the signatures of Campbell and Lowery and also a proposal for insurance signed by the same people. The deposit paid was shown as £260. An account in the private ledger showed that J. Shaw Campbell was credited with £515. The car was described as a Star' Six. An entry appeared for the car in the car register, showing that it was sold to W. A. Ross for £825 on October 26, 1926. Witness was unable to trace any record of the sale of the car to J. Shaw Campbell through the salps register, nor was there any , record of a deposit of £2OO having been paid to the company. The cash book contained an entry dated February 26, 1926, showing that £515 had been received from J. Shaw Campbell. On the same date there appeared an entry of a payment of £515 to Campbell Bros. Documents were also produced relating to the alleged sale of a car to Alexander Campbell, who was credited with the payment of £515 to tho company. That amount was shown as having been part of a lodgment of £IOBO in the bank On the credit side there appeared a payment of £IOBO to Campbell Bros. The car was shown as having been sold to R. A. ‘Wynn on November 26, 1926. for £475. Other documents were produced relating to the alleged sale of a car to Samuel Campbell for £BSO on a deposit of £285. The ledger showed that S. Campbell was credited with tho payment of £565 to the company, which was shown -as part of the £IOBO paid into the bank. It appeared to make up part of tho £IOBO shown as paid to Campbell Bros, by the company. The car referred to was shown as having seen sold to Miss Durand on May 1, 1926, for £750. There was no traco in the sales lodger of the car having been sold to S. Campbell, and no trace of tho deposit of £285. The documents relating to tho alleged sale of a car to C. J. Lowery were also produced. The deposit was shown as £260, promissory notes being given for the balance. An account in Lowery's name showed that he was credited with £515 as cash paid to tho company. A payment nf £515 to Campbell Bros, was also shown. The sales lodger did not show that the car had been sold. Similar evidence was given respecting the alleged sale of a car to W. M Lowe on a deposit of £155, with promissory notes for the balance. The private ledger credited Lowe with the payment of £530 to the company. Ho could find no record of a sale to Lowe nor any trace of tho deposit said to have been paid by him The car register showed no record of a sale. To Mr Ward: The opening entries showed that Lowery had sold his business to the company. , ' F B. Burdekin, general manager of the Otago and Southland Finance Corporation (Ltd.) at Dunedin, said that part of their business was to advance on tho tunopayment system to motor dealers. If an application for a loan wero accepted they advanced not more than two-thirds of tho purchase price of a vehicle. Ho produced an application by the Now Zealand Motor and Engineering Co., signed on behalf ot tho company by Mr Lowery, m connection with on alleged sale of a motor car to Robert Scott Gray. An advance was made, and a cheque issued to tho company for £435. Advances in regard to other applications wore made in February. 1926, and March, 1926. To Mr Hay i All moneys advanced, on the transactions had been repaid to the company. __ ... .. Chief Detective Cameron: How did it come about that you got all tho money refunded? Witness said that some of the earlier promissory notes wore mot in the ordinary way. Later on, his suspicions were a roused that things were not as they should be, and the directors made a demand from the Now Zealand Motor and Engineering Co. for about £9oo—the whole of the balance owing on the transactions, which the company considered were not satisfactory Robert Scott Gray, motor salesman, said he was at one time in the employ of the New Zealand Motor and Engineering Company. On one occasion Alexander Campbell asked him to sign a hire-pur-chase agreement in connection with the purchase of a Delage car. Mr Campbell said the company required money to lilt new cars out of bond to exhibit at the Exhibition. He also said it would be all right and that it was just a matter'of business. Witness did not take possession of any car. He Hid not think the documents were written up when he signed them. Witness registered the car* in his own name, the company paying the fee. He got the fee from Mr Lowery. Witness had paid no deposit on the car, nor had he met any of the promissory notes. He signed the documents as a matter of duty, being an employee of the companyMalcolm Stevenson, contractor, said that in March, 1926, he purchased a Delage car from the New Zealand Motor and Engineering Company. He made the purchase through Alex. Campbell. The price of the car was £6OO. The number of the car was 18-110, and the engine number 5291. It was a new car. Walter Morris Lowe, traveller, gave evidence that early in 1926, he was in the employ of the New Zealand Motor and Engineering Company. In March he signed a hire-purchase agreement, a proposal for insurance, and certain promissory notes. Lowery asked him to sign the agreement, stating that there was nothing w .s».ig with it, and that he was following one of the customs of business. Lowery referred to the difficulty of getting cars out of bond, and said that if witness signed it would assist in getting the cars out. Witness did not purchase a car The promissory notes were blank when witness signed them, and he did not think the full particulars were included in the hire-purchase agreements. Witness had paid nothing respecting the transaction. Subsequently he came to the conclusion tnat there was something wrong about the transaction, and he asked Alex. Campbell by telephone to put matters right and release witness from his obligation. Campbell promised to put the matter right, but nothing was done for a considerable time. To Mr Hay: He did not understand the hire-purchase agreement when ho signed it. The transaction was not a genuine one, and the document was signed owing to complete ignorance of its legal import. To Mr Moore; Witness knew nothing about the registration. Detective Beer stated that on June 27 he seized the books of the New Zealand Motor and Engineering Company under warrant. Later he saw Mr Nichol, solicitor for Campbell Bros., and the latter stated that they were prepared to give every assistance in connection with the inquiry. On July 3 he took a statement from Alex. Campbell. Witness read statements which he had taken from Alex. Campbell, James Shaw Campbell, Samuel Campbell, C. J. Lowery, and F. W. Bamfield. Chief Detective Cameron asked for an adjournment till this morning so that ho could secure the attendance of Mr Greenfield, of the Traders’ Finance Corporation, who had been called away suddenly to Invercargill. Mr Hay submitted that there was no evidence aga.nst his client. His Worship: Wo have his signature on some of the documents, and it must bo assumed that ho know what was going on.

Mr Hay; None of the accused has obtained money. His Worship said that matter could be mentioned when tho cv.denco was completed. The case was then adjourned till this mo; ning.

FARTHER CHALICES. -Me:-: ,- ruler Campoeli, James Shaw Camped, Sam el I. amp lull, Charles Janie- Thos Vcxandc T.ov.er;.. Frederick William Bam .ic'd, ami Clifford Pec! wore charged with, ■ ii Mai-' h 6, ;9.7, n( Dunedin, with intern lo defraud, they did outrun from the Otago mid Southland Finance Corporation (f.tdu the sum of £ -65 ie. falsely repr esentiug that Clifford Pod had purchased a new Star motor lorry, of the value of £695, and that the said Clifford Feel had paid a deposit of £230 as part payment for tho lorry.

The same accused were charged with, on March 26, 1926, at Dunedin, with intent to defraud, they did obtain from the Traders’ Finance Corporation (Ltd.), the sum of £350 by falsely representing that Clifford Peel bad purchased a new Star motor car, valued at £495, and that the said Clifford Peel had paid a deposit of £165 as part payment for the car. The same accused were charged with, on October 6, 1926, at Dunedin, with intent to defraud, they did obtain from the Traders’ Finance Corporation (Ltd.) the sum of £365 by faisely representing that Olive Smith had purchased a new Star motor car, valued at £550, and that the said Olive Smith had paid a deposit of £lB5 as part payment of the said car. Counsel appeared as in the previous cases. Peel conducted his own defence. Evidence was given by George W. Reid, public accountant. Portion of the evidence given by witness in the previous cases was admitted. Witness added that he had discovered in the books a payment of £903 made to the Otago and Southland Corporation. This amount represented balances that had previously stood in the books and represented balances to the credit of J. S. Campbell £lB5, C. Peel £163, C. J. Lowery £lB5, R. S. Gray £216, and W M. Lowe £l4B. These balances related to the transactions whereby advances had been received from the Otago and Southland Finance Corporation on the alleged hiring or sale of oars to the persons named. A. further entry showed that a sum of £903 was paid direct to the corporation by Campbell Bros. He found that Campbell Bros, were credited in the private ledger for £903. In the same account they were debited with an item of £905 dated November 30 1926, and worded: Transfer trucks.” Further investigations showed that an invoice number 2022 had been made out to Campbell Bros, for a Star truck and a Star chassis of a total value of £905. This was placed to their debit in the sales ledger, and this debit was then transferred to the debit of their account. Mr Hay: This all shows how the Campbells got money to pay the corporation. Chief Detective Cameron: It shows a system of fraud. . . Mr Hay; The police cannot prove their case by a general system of fraud. _ The • Magistrate; To prove the intent, inferences may be made from the surrounding circumstances. I am not prepared to say the evidence is not admissible. , Mr Ward pointed out that at the date referred to Mr Lowery was a shareholder in the company and nothing more. The Magistrate: You will be entitled to raise that objection later on. Witness gave further evidence as a result of his examination of the books _oi the New Zealand Motor and Engineering Company. He said there was no entry in the books of a car sold to Low on March, 1926, He produced a bond warrant to show that the car m question was in bond at that date. In the sales register there was no record of sales to L. FoolHe produced a document showing that Olive Smith had paid a deposit of £lßa on the purchase of a new car, but he was unable to trace the car in the company's car register, nor could he trace anv record through the sales register of the sale of a car to Mrs Smith. He had found the name of “O. Smith” in the pnvate ledger, with entries against it. To Mr Moore: In all the accounts appearing in the private ledger for the parties to the transactions there appeared debit entries for promissory notea wet by the company on behalf of the respective parties who had signed the promissory notes. These debits were offset against the original credits for the advances received, and it was the balances of these accounts at June 30, 1020. that appeared in the balance sheet at that date as loan accounts. The promissory notes were paid off monthly. , , To Mr Hay: The registered number of Lowe’s car was 107-526 and of Peel s 107-532. In other words, there was nothing to show that the two cars were the one .and the same car. To Mr Ward: Lowery retired from the directorate of the company on Juno 17, I " > Mr Ward submitted that, in the face of the witness’s evidence, Lowery’s name should be struck out of the charges. The Magistrate: I will wait until all the evidence has been heard. To Chief Detective Cameron: If a car was registered by Peel it would not have the same number as a car registered later by Lowe. . . , At this stage the further hearing of the case was adjourned until 10 a.m. on Monday.