ALTERED PLEA

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 274, 9 February 1928, Page 11

ALTERED PLEA

THOMAS PLEADS GUILTY SALE OF HOTEL SHARES The collapse of the Hotel Auckland scheme launched late last year was brought into the limelight again at the Supreme Court to-day before Mr. Justice Reed, when Stanley Uren Thomas stood on trial for theft. He was charged with receiving £SO on October 5, from Miss E. E. Nelder on account of Messrs. Rutherford, Robinson and Austin as brokers for the Hotel Auckland, and with receiving £l2 10s from J. A. Bond under similar circumstances. The alternative charges were that he obtained the money by false representations. Mr. Meredith prosecuted and Mr. Bryce Hart appeared for the accused. Mr. Meredith said that Thomas was a canvassed for shares in the company. It was his duty to collect 2s 6d on each share, give a receipt, and an official receipt would be sent from the office upon the money being handed in. In connection with Miss Nelder, Thomas first of all received £l2 10s from her for 50 shares. He handed this in and she duly received her receipt. She then took 400 shares and gave the accused £SO, but this had not been handed in. In Mr. Bond’s case, the accused received £l2 10s for 50 shares and cashed the cheque at a store in Brown’s Bay to pay his rent. These transactions took place after the scheme had fallen through. Since the Lower Court action, said Mr. Meredith, further developments had taken place. The publicity given the case had resulted in letters being received from people in various parts of the country who wanted to know why they had not received the official receipt after giving Thomas the money. These witnesses would be called to show the system. PLEA ALTERED The evidence of Miss Nelder and Mr. Bond corroborated the opening remarks. Several other witnesses were called, and spoke of having seen in the newspapers the charges against the accused, and their communicating with the company asking for receipts. William H. Robinson, of the firm of Rutherford, Robinson and Austin, said Thomas had been dismissed in September. At this stage Mr. Hart intimated that the prisoner would plead guilty. “I think he is very wise.” said His Honour. “He will be remanded for sentence until Saturday.”