OBTAINING GOODS

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 114, 11 November 1919, Page 7

OBTAINING GOODS

CHARGE OF FALSE PRETENCES.

A middle-aged man, named Thomas Steele Duncan, was tried before Mr. Justice Hosking yesterday afternoon at the, Supreme Court, on a charge of having obtained in September last goods to the value of £107 19a 6d from Kirkcaldie and Stains* Ltd. and goods to the value of ±■16 2s from E. Norton, tailor, by means oi iaise pretences. The accused pleaded not guilty. Mr. P. S X Macassey represented the Crown, and Mr. H. F. O'Leary the accused. .-.■•■

. Mr. G. J. H. Bell was foreman of the

Evidence was given by George Edwin Matheson, accountant to Kirkcaldie and Stains, Ltd and by William Robert Boyd, W E. Platt, John V Elias S Harris, and John Darcy, salesmen, and three saleswomen in the employ of Kirkcaldie and Stains as to the supply of goods to the accused, who had informed the accountant in securing credit that he was a farmer in the Taihape district. He also produced a certificate of \good character, signed by the Hon. W H. Hernes. Evidence was also given as to the goods obtained from E. Norton, on which occasion the accused said he came from laumarunui.

Sergeant W. A. Mathew, of fhe Taihape police, said he had made inquiries and was certain acensed did not live in the laihape district. Detective Sergeant Scott deposed to arresting accused, and finding a considerable portion of the goods in his possession.- ■

lor the defence, David Duncan, son of the accused., said he lived at Aria 25 miles out ■ from Te Kuiti, on a farm with a m0 Lthern Hls father wa* there .until August. The farm comprised about 196 acres, leasehold, and was worth about £20 an acre for the goodwill. Prior to that tune his father had a carrying business in Te Kuiti, but had suffered from rheumatic fever, and had left home on account of his health. At this stage the case was adjourned until to-day. On the resumption of the Court to-day his Honour summed up to the jury submitting the questions as to whether the statements made by the accused were false to his knowledge, whether he made the statement m order to obtain goods on credit, whether he obtained goods on false pretences and whether there was an ntentwn to defraud. It was for the jury to say whether the man was honest or dishonest, considering all the facts of the cams.

After an absence of about half an •hour the jury returned with a verdict h d gullty j and the Prisoner was dis-