ALLEGED ARMS FRAUD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23690, 23 December 1938, Page 13

ALLEGED ARMS FRAUD

THE MISSING GUNS “ SCENE ” AT MARSEILLES DOCKERS’ THREAT (By Air Mail) ' , (From Our Own Correspondent) LONDON, Nov. 24. Scenes alleged to have occurred at Marseilles after cases supposed to contain armaments had been found to be filled with “ junk ” were described in evidence at Bow street. Dennis Michael Corrigan, 46, an agent, of Park lane, W., Frederick Willing, 50, of Tavistock square, Bloomsbury, and his son, James Oil Herbert Willing, 24, of Dorset House, N.W., metal merchants, were accused on remand of conspiring with Chou Tin Shu and others unknown to defraud M. Theodore Laffitte. manager of a Paris firm, of £7250. They were also charged with obtaining that sum, and with attempting to obtain a further £4OOO by false pretences. It was alleged that M. Laffitte paid £7250 for 50 machine guns and 500,000 rounds of ammunition. “I AM IN A MADHOUSE” Felix Maurice Portal, secretary to M. Laffitte, whose evidence was interpreted, recalled an interview in Paris in April between James Willing and M. Laffitte. Frederick Willing brought a receipt of delivery, which he purported came from Woolwich Arsenal. “I doubted its genuineness,” said M. Portal, “ and Willing snatched back the document, saying. ‘I am in a madhouse! ’ ” M. Portal stated that later he went to Marseilles with James Willing, having received instructions from M. Laffitte to verify merchandise which had been unloaded on the wharf. Certain of the packages were found to be broken. He continued: “ We saw at once that they contained old stones and wood shavings. James Willing said that it was not necessary to open the other boxes, adding, 4 1 know that they were sent from London without any goods in them.’ ” About a dozen other cases were opened and found to contain stones, wood shavings, and pieces of iron James Willing said that he was very surprised. He knew the person “who had stolen the goods.” James Willing made a statement at an hotel, and later said that because he had made no reference to Mr Shu he wanted to make a second statement. Cross-examined by Mr C. G L. Du Cann, for the Willings. M. Portal agreed that Willing was shocked and upset when the first package was opened. M. Portal said that he did not go to the wharf knowing that the guns and ammunition would not be there It was untrue that James Willing was surrounded by dockers saying that he had swindled their Spanish comrades, and that they were going to throw him into the dock. Mr Du Cann: These cases, although ostensibly for China, were really going to Spain, were they not?—l know only that they were going to China

M. Portal added that everyone on the wharf went to the police station. Willing was accompanied by two inspectors in civilian clothes —he did not know whether they were armed. Willing telephoned to his father three times; he was very worried and anxious. JOKE ABOUT PRISON The two inspectors accompanied them to lunch. It may have been said at lunch as a joke that Willing was lucky not to be having his lunch in prison. Mr Du Cann: Did he spend his time at lunch trying to convince you of his innocence?—No, by this time he seemed to be completely indifferent

Mr Du Cann suggested that at 5.30 p.m. M. Portal told Willing that if he did not sign a document he would prefer a, charge against him at six o’clock.

M. Portal replied, “ Nb.” and said that the document was signed at 12 o’clock. Mr Du Cann: Did Willing sign this document when he was in a state of collapse?—-No, he was not very upset. M, Portal denied that at dinner that night they had “a last drink to him and liberty.” Mr Du Cann: You were trying to get out of him an extra cheque for £SOOO, were you not? —No. He proposed spontaneously to pay £SOOO as indemnity. He said the merchandise would arrive at Le Havre in 15 days. The cheques were to be cashed only if the goods did not arrive.

M. Portal said that Willing wrote both statements himself. It was false to say that the statements and cheques were obtained from him on the threat of detaining him in Marseilles. Mr Du Cann then submitted that the statements alleged to have been made by James Willing were not admissible as evidence.

The magistrate (Sir Ronald GrahamCampbell) ruled that they were evidence, but agreed that English translations of the statements should not be read in court, since there was a possibility of them being excluded at the trial.

INSURED,FOR £15,000 Geoffrey Jack Chambers, of Worthing, a representative of a London shipping firm, said that at a Soho restaurant in March a man named Heinz introduced him to Corrigan. They both introduced him to Mr Shu, saying that he was associated with the Chinese Embassy. * 44 Corrigan did most of the talking,” continued Mr Chambers, “ and I was told that they had some ammunition and guns to go out to China. The shipment was to contain machine guns and ammunition. 44 Space was booked in three ships, but all the bookings were cancelled, as I was given to understand that the cases were not ready. I insured the contents as machine guns and ammunition for £15,000. “CALL IT MOTOR PARTS” “I showed the policy to Corrigan, and he said, 4 We cannot have that. It is not guns or bullets. They are not going down to the ship.’ ” Mr Chambers said that later Corrigan suggested: 44 Call it motor car parts or machine tools.” Corrigan also said that an invoice would be supplied by his nominee, a Mr James Willing. Cross-examined by Mr Du Cann. Mr Chambers said his firm could not quite understand the part that Heinz was playing in the matter, except that they had to deal with Heinz in the first, place. 44 When we found that the cases contained junk,” he said, 44 1 saw Heinz, He could not give my directors and myself anything definite except a lot of promises of repayment. I have not seen him since then, nor have we had any repayment. I think my directors have been trying to get ..old of him.” Mr Du Cann: Do you know whether the police are trying to get hold of him?—l do not know.

FORGED INVOICE SUGGESTION Mr Chambers said that after the discovery at Marseilles, Frederick Willing came to see his directors and was indignant. When Frederick Willing was shown an invoice he said it was a forgery, and that the initials were not in his son’s handwriting. Mr Chambers said that he understood the Willings were merely Corrigan’s nominees. He did not make inquiries about them except to look up their names in the telephcne directory. The hearing was adjourned until December 1. Bail was renewed for the Willings. Mr John Stephens, for Corrigan, applied for bail, saying that Corrigan had no passport, and that he needed to be on bail to prepare his defence. The application was refused.