"ANCONIA SHEEP DIP."

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 53, 3 March 1919, Page 2

"ANCONIA SHEEP DIP."

J. C. HARBISON BEFORE COURT. 1/ONG TRIAL EXPECTED. The trial of John C. Harrison upon a number of charges of fraud, arising out of dealings in a compound known as "the Anconia Sheep Dip," was begun at the Supreme Court to-day. The accused was arrested last year at Vancouver, and extradited to New Zealand. The trial was delayed !by the epidemic, and by the difficulty in getting certain Crown witnesees from Australia, with the result that the accused was over ten months in custody. The case was tried before Mr. Justice Hosking. Hon. J. A. Tole, K.C., appeared for the Crown, and Mr. R. A. Singer for the defence. The trial ie expected to last for some days, ac the Crcrwii intends to call a large number of witnesses. Both counsel this morning challenged numerous jurymen, and iwhen at length a jury was empanelled, the oath wae administered a second time by his Honor's direction. The remainder of the panel was discharged from attpidance till Thursday morning. The accused, at Mr. Singer's request, was allowed to sit in front of the dock, to facilitate consultation from time to timo with his couneel. The indictment contained five charges of obtaining cheques by means of false pretences, with alternative charges of stealing the cheques and of stealing the money they represented. The namee of the alleged victims and the amounts of the cheques were:—Ernest James Taylor, T? Awamutu, £21 12/, January 15, 1918; William S. Cato, Te Kuiti, £21 12/, February 7; Norman D. Anderson, Marton, ,C(M 16/, February 11; Frederick H. Jackson, New Plymouth, £61 16/, February 12: Xorman H. S. Sinclair, Palmerston North, £108, February 20. Harrison was also charged thai at Auck land, on various dates in January and February, 101S, ho obtained credit by fraud from the following five persons or firms for the amounts stated: —Hector M. Matheson, £118 11/9; Harold O. Wiles, £47 5/; Banks Box Co, £43 4/; Edwin .Savers, £22 8/6; John Anderson, £14 4/6. " THE CROWN CASE. Mr. Tole, opening his case, said the series of transactions referred to in the indictment constituted one of the grossest pieces of imposture ever discovered in New Zealand, and was carried out with a refinement that showed a practised hand. The five charges of false pretences all related to cheques of an aggregate value of £300 odd, which, it was almost needless to say, had been cashed. These cheques tne accused obtained by false representations that certain packages of powder contained a good and effective sheep-dip. The preparation, which was sold by the accused under the name of the "Anconia Sheep Dip," would be shown to be worthless for that purpose. In addition the accused also fraudulently obtained credit to the extent of £234 in procuring a quantity of goods, including sulphur, soda, and alum, boxes, printed cartons, pamphlets, and other printed matter relating to the dip. Harrison. Mr. Tole went on, arrived from Australia on December 26, 1917. He told the Customs officials that he was a farmer travelling for the benefit of his health. Within ten days he secured the lease of premises in Queen Street for a term of three yea.rs, at a rental of £165 a year. He represented himself to the landlord as a member of the firm of "John Harrison and Sons, warehousemen." By March 5 following he was out of New Zealand, leaving the premises derelict, but in the meantime he had succeeded in accumulating about £1000 by means of his bogus sheep dip, although the present charges related to only about £300. Mr. Tole went on to describe dealings between Harrison and various local firms in regard to supplies, printing, and advertising. The accused, he continued, then went on a journey down the Main Trunk, in the course of which he persuaded persons at Te Awamutu. Te Kuiti, Marton, New Plymouth, and Palmerston North to buy quantities of his preparation, and to give open cheques in payment. He declared that the dip was better' than certain well known preparations, and that it had been used successfully in the Argentine and elsewhere. He offered them agencies, and promised to send canvassers to push the sales. When the canvassers failed to arrive, some of the victims made inquiries, but by that time Harrison was on the high seas. Samples of the powder were sent for analysis, and were pronounced worthless as a sheep dip or disinfectant, the estimated value of a 5/ packet being about 6d. The case is proceeding.