CURIOUS CASE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17572, 24 June 1925, Page 13

CURIOUS CASE.

| ALLEGED “ SALTING OF MINE.” NEW ZEALANDER CHARGED (Special to the " Star.'"’ LONDON, April 22. A most- curious story comes to hand from Winnipeg by to-day's mail. Jfc tells how Mr Joseph Myers—-who is a native of W ellington. New Zealand—managing director of the Bingo Gold Mines, is being accused of salting the mine. Mr Myers, on the other hand, asserts that the mine is a good one - i;i oilier words, require;-, no sailing ; that, to put i r ' colloquially, this is a, put-up job on tho part of certain American financial interests to represent the mine as worthless in order that ihey may obtain it at tho value or a deprociatftl property. The files of the Winnipeg papers dated April G and S contain the opeamg proceedings before Sir Hugh John Macdonald. Mr Myers is being prosecuted by the Crown for putting forward a false assay, and Mr Andrews, K.C. for the Crown, said: “Unless we can prove these assays were false and that Myers knew they were false, the Crown fails.” Mr R. A. Bonnar, K.for Mr Myers, declared: “ These charges arc based on financial interests, and, while my learned friends are not a party to this scheme, this is a bogus prosecution for the purpose of exploiting some financial deal.” The evidence of one witness, Mr John Wanless, was objected to on the plea that he was not competent to assert that the assay was good. That could only be done by the man who had assayed the specimens. Evidently, however, the judge allowed the question to be put to Mr Wanless, “ Did you or did you not have anything to do with salting the mine r ” when Mr Andrews said he proposed to ask every witness the same question, and to prove the fact of salting by the process of elimination. “ I did not,” witness said, “ nor did Mr Myers.” Feeling ran high over the cross-exam-ination of Mr L. Chamberlain, assistant suj>ermtendent at the mine in 2921. In it the facts were elicited that panning was done in the blacksmith's shop, some in front of the shop. Witness was asked how much rock there was on the Bingo dump. Ho replied that there was about 10 000 or 12.000 tons. “ The truth about this mine could be found out by grinding this reck?” askcd M r J 3 onnar. “ Yes.” replied witness. " -And Mr Myers was trying to get a ■' mill erected there?” "And that rock is stilt there to tell ! the trut.h?” continued Mr Bonnar. ! “. And any man offered to grind it at * his own expense, what would you i j think?” i I think he would lea fool, was ’ the short reply of witness, j " M e’li do it.” announced Mr Bonnar firmly. “Mr Myers will do it to-day if permission is given him by the prosecution. I suggest to my learned friends that we test this case here and now by their allowing us to erect a mill and mill the rock.” “ That's a sporting offer/’ agreed Magistrate Macdonald. Mr Graham rose to point out that they were in Court for the purpose of prosecuting certain charges against Mr Myers, and that the prosecution could not, even if they desired, give permission for the erection of a mill. ” I thought my learned friends wanted the truth, and I was offering them a short cut,” announced Air liounai. The morning session of the Court was enlivened by clashes between the solicitor?, by accusations of using the case as a means of spreading propaganda, and by a sharp rebuke of Mr Bonnar by ?.fagistrate Macdonald for constantly interrupting the examination of L. Chamberlain, who occupied the witness stand. Showing four letters purporting to be signed by Myers, he swore the signa- i ture was that of Myers. Arising to cross-examine, Mr Bonnar steadily ! grilled witness on the signature, and | succeeded in discrediting all the evid- • ence he had given having any bearing j on the matter. It was ordered to be j struck out of the record.