CHARGES OF FRAUD

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19694, 28 July 1938, Page 14

CHARGES OF FRAUD

-. ACCOUNTANT FOR TRIAL AIR-CONDITIONING COURSI ADVERTISED OFFERS EVIDENCE BY POLICE (Par Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. A number of -advertisements pub lished in three North' Island dail newspapers stating that a trainee wa required lor the position of service man with a refrigerating compan; led to the appearance in the Magis trate's Court. Wellington, yesterdaj of Frederick Joseph Huddleston alia Oppenheim, alia.s Lawbatchewsln aged 31, an accountant, who faced si charges of false pretences and one o attempted false pretence. Huddleston pleaded not guilty ani was committed by Mr. J. L. Stoui S.M., to the Supreme Court, Welling ton, for trial. Bail was allowed in tw< sureties of £IOO each, and one suret; of £2OO. The accused was charged that, 01 or about June 9, with intent to de fraud, he obtained £5 from Reginah William Edlin, by falsely represent ing that, by taking a course of stud: in refrigerating and air conditionin; at a cost of £2O, Edlin would be guar anteed employment with a compan; called "National Air Conditioner Limited," which was then operating i workshop at Hamilton. Huddleston also was charged thai with intent to defraud, he oblainec £5 from Cecil Verdin Roy Edlin b; false pretences, £lO from Arthur Ed win Hislop, £5 from Cecil Georgi Mann. £5 from Albert Edward Clark and £2 from Arthur John Chapman also that with intent to defraud, hi attempted to obtain £2O from Trevoi Wilson by false pretences. Sum Oi £217 Received Detective-Sergeant P. Doyle con I ducted the case for the police am Huddleston was represented by Mr C. H. Arndt. Evidence of finding documents anc a letter which showed that betweer February 14, 1938, and June 29, 1938 the accused had received £247 15s (Jc from persons named on various lists was given by Detective S. C. Browne Wellington, who described visiting Huddleston's office in Vivian .street Wellington. "I saw the accused and told bin that we had received information tc Die effect he was offering to supply courses of instruction in refrigeratioi and air conditioning in order to fi young men for positions with, -a com pany called National Air Conditionerj Limited, which was said to be incor porated." said the witness. When asked for information coir corning the company and the condi tions of employment, Huddleston tolc the witness that everything was quit' all right. The accused said he knew what he was doing, and was preparer to give the men positions when th< time came. 1 "I asked for more information abou the company," the witness said, "anc the meaning of the business and tht accused replied: 'I don't want to dis cuss the matter with you at all. ', know what I am doing. You hav( nothing on me. If any explanation i: necessary, I will give it in the propel place.' Warning Given "After warning the accused, 1 tolc him he would be arrested on a charge of being a rogue and a vagabond, ir that he was imposing on private individuals. He made no reply." Witness said he had taken charge ol all the documents found at the office and had checked over the various papers. There jtvas nothing to indicate that a company had been or was about to be formed. The documents found consisted of large quantities ol correspondence letters, which had been systematically filed and indexed. "There are some hundreds of these letters, and all are replies to numerous advertisements which have been inserted in the newspapers throughout the North Island. In every instance the writer is making application for a position which has been advertised," said the witness. At a later stage of his evidence, after handing in as exhibits the documents found, the witness said that from the cash receipt books, diary and other correspondence found in the possession of the accused, a list had been prepared showing that between February 14 last and June 29, Huddleston 'had received a total of £247 15s Gd. According to the list, the money had been paid by the persons concerned for courses of instruction to fit them for the advertised positions. Mr. Arndt intimated that Huddleston had nothing to say at this stage.