CHARGE OF FRAUD LAID

Taranaki Daily News, 24 July 1929, Page 11

CHARGE OF FRAUD LAID

CHINESE BANKRUPT’S DEBTS

COMPLAINT OF “FAIRY TALES.”

“HAD RANSOMED HIS FATHER.”

By Telegraph.—Press association.

Dunedin, July 23. In the Police Court, Kum Yoon Lee, who appeared as a bankrupt before the Official Assignee in April, pleaded guilty to fourteen charges of obtaining money and goods by fraud, or, that being bankrupt, he contracted debts without a prospect of payment. Evidence was given by,Douglas William McKay, a member of a merchant firm, that accused stated that he was opening shops and required goods. Ac- , cased told him his father was a retired merchant residing in Auckland, where accused had lost £2OOO through giving credit. He said, among other things, that his father owned a motor-car which cost £1350, and that while in China his father was captured by brigands, accused having to go to the mountains to ransom him.

McKay and other witnesses stated that credit was given because of accused’s fairy tales. One witness said accused’s father, who was formerly in business in Dunei din, was a meet honourable man. The father, in evidence, stated that he was a market gardener at Invercargill, and his family had had large business operations in -Auckland, Dunedin and Invercargill. He had been a Chin- : ese missioner in Dunedin for some years. His son was jjrevfously in the silk business with him, when a large sum of money was lost. Witness had been captured by brigands, but was not ransomed. He had never owned a car worth £1350, but had a Standard car at Invercargill. Witness had promised his son that if he behaved he would give him the gardens on which he was now working. The case was adjourned to an unspecified date.