TORN BANKNOTES

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21041, 17 February 1940, Page 8

TORN BANKNOTES

BEHAVIOUR IN HOTEL ACCUSED IN FRAUD CASE SIGNATURE ON CHEQUE (By Telejraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Friday The hearing was continued in the Magistrate’s Court to-day of the charge against Harvey ' Maitland Chrystall and Gordon Percy Aston both engineers. The case was opened before Mr J. H. Luxford, S.M., on Wednesday. The accused are jointly charged with conspiring to defraud Hartley Roy Sellers, deceased, of is alleged to have been committed in is alleged to hae been committed in Wellington and other places in the Dominion on or about October 1, 1937, and divers dates between then and July 3, 193.9. Mr C. E. Purchase is appearing for Aston and Mr W. E. Leicester and Mr R. T. Peacock for Chrystall. Winifred Weston, married woman, of Christchurch, said she had known r p Slon 1 „ :f 0 0 ., r 10 years - ° n Christmas Eve, 193/, witness went to Tahunan}a ® each at Aston’s request to look Hut ’” he having previously told her he was taking over- the place. Witness remained there for several months. Aston did not stay there very much. “The Hut” conof a tea-room, shop, ice-cream bar, kitchen, servery, several bedrooms, sitting room, bathroom and pantry. She did not see any experiments carried out at “The Hut.” William John Kyle, licensee of the Trafalgar Hotel, Nelson, said he made a casual acquaintance with ™J° n flve years ago - In December, 1937, he came to know Sellers and Chrystall. At the beginning of 1938 Aston mentioned that he was receiving money from the British Admiralty, but he gave no idea what it was for. He said on one occasion that he had received a draft of £13,000. Aston did not give him any idea of what the money was for. Banknotes Torn Up Witness said Aston had a bad habit of tearing up £1 and £5 notes and throwing them about the bar. When the two accused were staying at the hotel on one occasion Aston said Chrystall was employed by the British Admiralty. In 1937 Aston took over “The Hut” and a launch was subsequently purchased. Witness was told this launch was taken out to sea for experiments. Aston said he had a length of silk about a mile long, which he used in connection with these experiments. Sellers frequently visited Nelson, said witness. On several occasions he stayed at the hotel. Sellers always did what Aston requested him to do. Aston would sometimes say he was going to telephone Sellers and ask him to come to Nelson by air. On a number of occasions after Aston made this remark Sellers arrived the next day. Mr Purchase raised an objection to the evidence. On one occasion after Sellers had arrvied, continued witness, Aston had a roll of notes which he said amounted to £IOOO. Witness recalled Aston saying the money had come from Sellers. Chrystall never showed signs of having large amounts of money in his possession. Aston usually paid the hotel bills for himself, Chrystall and whoever the party might be. Chrystall did not indulge in lavish spending. Robert Campbell, shop proprietor, Nelson, said that on one occasion Aston had a roll of notes which he began to count. Aston subsequently remarked that he was too busy and at his request a boy counted the money and said the total amount was £750. Aston later showed witness a draft and a cheque for £12,000, payable on a London bank. Witness remembered seeing the signatures at the foot of the cheque and was fairly certain that one was the signature of Sellers. Aston said he was going to London to collect this money. Aston and Chrystall made no secret of the fact that they were connected with the British Government. “That Was My Money.** Frederick James Clarke, porter and barman, Trafalgar Hotel, Nelson, said that in 1936 his wife, with financial assistance, bought a tearoom and confectionery business known as “The Hut.” Witness said he knew Aston and recalled that on one occasion he remarked that he had a contract with the British Admiralty. Witness said he went out in a launch on several occasions, but no exoeriments were carried out. One trip turned out to be a really drunken party. “Lots of times I saw Aston tearing up banknotes in the hotel bar,” said witness. “Some were £5 notes, others were £1 notes, and some 10s notes. When he had done this he just threw them on the floor. On one of these occasions Sellers said, ‘That was my money he was tearing up.’ Sellers would always do what he was told by Aston. On one occasion Sellers said he was going back on the boat that night. Aston said he was not to go back, but to stay there. It appeared that Sellers was under the domination of Aston.” Witness added that Aston once said he would take him out on the launch in connection with some experiments. No experiment was carried out. This was the occasion of the drunken party. Sometimes Aston said he was going to England under Admiralty instructions and that he was not looking forward to the trip because he would be under supervision all the time. Sold “Hut” To Himself Alma Monica Clarke, cashier, Wellington, gave details of “The Hut” property being purchased on her behalf. In 1937 Aston opened a shop in Trafalgar Street, Nelson, and witness agreed to take charge of it for him. She was there six weeks. When witness’ financial position in connection with her own business was acute she discussed the matter with Aston, who arranged to take power of attorney over the business. In December. 1939, said witness, just before the two years’ agreement expired, Aston, acting under his power of attorney, sold the property to himself. Witness added that she received no notification of the sale and learned of it through her solicitor. She was not consulted in any way and received uu consideration

whatever. Would Be Paid £500,000 lan Burns Cromb, Christchurch, managing-director of Cash Radio, Southland, and Cash Radio, Westland, said Aston had half shares in both companies. Shortly after his first meeting with Aston in 1939 they had a conversation in which Aston said he had a “quad” plant in Australia for the manufacture of steel plates in connection with an invention for protecting ships from torpedo attacks. Aston said he had to go to Australia frequently to instal this plant and keep it running. He also said he would be paid £500,000 for the invention when the plant was completed and handed over in running order. On all steel handled over £BO a ton was to be received. Aston said Chrystall was employed by him at a salary of £7OO a year and that he had to assist him with his experimental work at “The Hut” and in and around Nelson and the bays. Witness added that Aston also told him that Sellers had a quarter share in the invention. Aston said Sellers had been allowed to buy some of Chrystall's share-holdings in a company called Chromadyne, Limited, and that this would never have taken place if he (Aston) had been in New Zealand at the time. So far six of the 37 police witnesses have been heard. The hearing was adjourned late this afternoon and will be resumed on Monday.