COMMITTED FOR TRIAL.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 234, 2 October 1931, Page 1

COMMITTED FOR TRIAL.

Britannia Bank Case in Lower Court Ends. SYDNEY, October 1. . When the case in which Philip James Mond and Victor Cunninghame, who are charged with fraud, was continued to-day, Mond’s counsel submitted that : no offence had been disclosed in the ; evidence. The accused were committed to the Supreme Court for trial, bail being granted. Detective-Sergeant Lawrence said that the police were satisfied that there was intent to defraud, judging by the two men’s actions. The Magistrate, Mr Shepherd, asked: “ Don’t you think that the prosecution is premature, as the scheme had not matured, it being said that everything was subject to confirmation in England?” Sergeant Lawrence expressed the opinion that an agreement to commit the alleged offences had already been completed. What the accused intended to do afterwards the police did not know. Mr Manning, counsel for the accused, urged the point that Mond’s actions had been quite in order. The Magistrate: “ Cannot an inference be drawn from the fact that he did not produce on demand the document said to be a power of attorney signed by influential men in England?” Mr Manning: “ Not at all.” Mr Scott, for the Crown, submitted that the defendants’ intention was to convince leading business men that they were bona fide and then obtain money from the public. The Magistrate: “What is troubling me is the matter of ratification in England. Do you suggest that this would have been rigged up by the defendants?” Mr Scott: “Yes.” After further evidence, Mond and Cunninghame were committed for trial, bail being fixevl at £4O each. The Magistrate remarked that he would leave the matter to the AttorneyGeneral.