and owed him money for building materials, rent, and property.

Plaintiff Frederick Hendrickson was testifying at the end of a week in the Supreme Court civil trial of Arnold Todd -- a former Bank of Bermuda loans officer. Puisne Judge Vincent Meerabux presides.

Mr. Hendrickson, of Flatt's Hill, Hamilton Parish, told Todd's lawyer Michael Scott that Todd collected rents from eleven properties for seven years, but had not paid him.

He denied a series of payments were for property at Town Hill Road, and said they were for building materials.

Mr. Hendrickson said he acted as Mr. Todd's importer during those years, but had received only $180,000 for $224,000 worth of building materials.

And 74-year-old Mr. Hendrickson denied any knowledge of the affairs of F.L.

Enterprises Ltd. -- F.L. are Mr. Hendrickson's initials -- and denied that he signed share certificates for the company.

After Mr. Scott handed him several photocopies, Mr. Hendrickson said: "That paper is false. I don't know how my signature got on that.'' "Those documents are just like others that I didn't sign,'' he added. "They have wrong addresses, they're faded and I gave no power of attorney to anyone.'' Mr. Hendrickson added that he expected Todd to be "loyal'' to him and considered him a friend "until things went wrong''.

He admitted under cross-examination he had only a passing interest in his local affairs once he left the Island to live in Virginia.

Earlier in the trial, sparks flew as Mr. Justice Meerabux refused to allow an adjournment to allow incoming counsellor, Mr. Scott, to familiarise himself with the case.

Mr. Scott told Mr. Justice Meerabux that he had only joined the case on Tuesday and was not prepared to cross-examine Mr. Hendrickson.

"I only signed on to take the notes of Mr. Hendrickson's evidence,'' Mr.

Scott added.

Mr. Justice Meerabux answered: "You are skating on thin ice. You have the right to cross-examine or the evidence just goes unchallenged.'' On Friday, Mr. Hendrickson denied entering agreements with F.L. Enterprises as the principal shareholder and with Arnest Ltd. and did not know who built houses on property at Town Hill, Flatts.

"It all came through Mr. Todd. Mr. Todd and no one else,'' he answered repeatedly. "I found out about this after the case started. Delmont Talbot, Darren Woods, and Ashley Raynor were sent to me by Mr. Todd.

Also on Friday, David Pereira said he worked as manager and bookkeeper of Delro Ltd., owned by Delmont Talbot, for ten years in the 1980's.

Under questioning by Counsel Keiran Unwin, Pereira said he had questioned many discrepancies in the company's dealings, but had been told by Talbot: "What you do not know will not hurt you.'' Mr. Pereira said it was often his duty to clear through Customs, containers imported by Todd who would reimburse Delro Ltd.

He added: "I would submit bills to Mr. Todd and I would get money by Fridays.

I then had to pay Delro Ltd. wages.

Mr. Pereira also said he did not know Mr. Hendrickson at the time and only became aware of F.L. Enterprises Ltd. after a Police investigation began.

Mr. Justice Meerabux would not allow Mr. Scott to introduce the photocopies of the share certificates after he admitted an overnight search was unsuccessful.

He added: "Unless you can produce the originals in the proper way, you cannot introduce them through this witness (Mr. Hendrickson).'' The case continues today.