DAIRY FACTORY CASES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16423, 6 May 1924, Page 9

DAIRY FACTORY CASES.

ALLEGED CONSPIRACY TO

DEFRAUD

EMPLOYEE ADMITS GUILT.

(Per Press Association.)

PALMERSTON N., this day

The local sessions of the Supreme Court opened this morning before Mr Justice Hosking. True hills were returned in five cases wherein Henry Simpson was charged with Arthur Melvin Taylor, John Jens Sorens Thomasen. O'tto Kreighen Richard Gairgan, and Alfred Wright, with conspiracy to defraud in connection with the supply of cream to the Cheltenham Daily Company. The first case heard was against Simpson and Thomasen. charged that during. October last they conspired, to defraud the Cheltenham Dairy Company of £B9 18s by means of false cream tests. ,

Simpson pleaded guilty and Thomasen pleaded not guilty. Simpson left the dock, and the trial against the second accused was proceeded with.

Addressing the jury the Crown Prosecutor said that while there was no question Hie Company had been defrauded of a certain stun, the amount set out in the charge was merely speculative. It represented the probable loss hv the Company by accused’s alleged conduct. The way tiie alleged fraudulent conspiracy was found out was somewhat unusual. When Simpson was absent from work at the factory, owing to illness, the tests went down, but when lie returned a few weeks later the tests immediately went up again. The suspicions of the Company were aroused. The defendant, with, the others involved, were given an opportunity of explaining. They attended a meeting of directors, and counsel claimed that the offence was practically admitted.

At this stage the Court adjourned