WINE FRAUDS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 285, 14 September 1935, Page 8

WINE FRAUDS

POOR PEOPLE HOAXED. “You havo traded' on the credulity of these poor people in a contemptible way,” declared the chairman of the Basingstoke Magistrates when he dealt with Harry Sanders, a salesman, and Mrs May Roberts, saleswoman, of Hammersmith, They were charged with obtaining money by false pretences with intent to defraud. During the case the King was frequently referred to, and one of the chief witnesses was a member of the staff at Buckingham Palace. An elderly widow, Mrs Annie Judd, living at the Almshouses, Basingstoke, told the Court that Sanders, ealledi at her house offering wine for sale. He said it was left over from the Jubilee celebrations, and it was the King’s wish that it should be distributed cheaply among the poor people living in the almshouses in Basingstoke. Ho told her also, she alleged, that 8s Gd had already been paid oil each bottle, and she had to pay only Is Gd. Because she thought the King was very kind she undertook to buy two bottles, and tendered Sanders a £1 note in payment. Instead of giving her 17s change he gave her 14s and another two bottles of wine. She told him she only wanted two bottles, hut he walked straight out of the house.

Air Herbert Alien Smith, managing clerk of the wine cellars at Buckingham Palace, stated that at no time had there been wine of the kind produced by Airs Judd at Buckingham. Palace. Ho had no knowledge of the King having given authority to distribute wine to the old people at Basingstoke Almshouses.

Sanders denied telling Mrs Judd anything about the King or the Jubilee celebrations. AVhat lie said was that it was a Jubilee offer. Roberts, who pleaded guilty, stated that she was a married woman with four children. Harry Goole, also living in an almshouse, declared that the wine he bought from Roberts tasted like a mixture of cayenne pepper and water. Sanders was sentenced to one month’s hard labour and Roberts to one month in the second division.