CHARGE OF FRAUD AGAINST SOLICITOR

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 174, 13 October 1927, Page 13

CHARGE OF FRAUD AGAINST SOLICITOR

APPLICATION TO STRIKE LAWYER OFF ROLLS. BEFORE APPEAL COURT Press Association. WELLINGTON, To-day. The Appeal Court, consisting of Mr. Justice Sim, Mr. Jnstico Herdman, Mr. Justice Reed, Mr. Justice Adams and Mr. Justice Ostler, was engaged this morning hearing an application under the Law Practitioners’ Act, 1908, to strike Frederick Coles Jordan off the rolls as a solicitor.

The facts are that William Wolf, of Auckland, asked Jordan to prepare a second mortgage for £450 to a man named Taylor. Wolf told Jordan that the mortgage money was money owing on dissolution of partnership between Wolf and Taylor. Jordan prepared the mortgage, and Wolf signed it in Taylor’s presence.

Later on Wolf came to Jordan and said that Taylor had a mortgage for sale for £250. Jordan could not find a purchaser at £250, but eventually found one at £IOO.

The security turned out bad, and Wolf then left for America. Taylor then stated that Jordan worked a fraud, since there was no money owing to him, and that the mortgage was for the purpose of defeating Wolf’s creditors.

He (Taylor) also stated another reason for the preparation of the mortgage was that money was owing to Guthrie Bowron and Company by Wolf. Upon these facts the Law Society is taking action.

Mr. A. W. Blair, for the society, submitted that if he could show that Jordan had been guilty of acting in the preparation of a mortgage drawn up for the purpose of defeating Wolf’s creditors, then that was sufficient for the court to exercise its powers of striking him off the rolls. Mr. G. P. Finlay, of Auckland, appears for Jordan. (Proceeding.)