"PARTNER WANTED."

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 120, 23 May 1922, Page 5

"PARTNER WANTED."

SYSTEMATIC FRAUD ALLEGED. BY MEANS OF ADVERTISEMENT. 'COMMERCIAL "BROKER/ , CHARGED. A young man. Lionel Xorman Haigh, 26 years of age, who had been carrying on a. business in King's Chambers, Commerce Street, under the name of a financial broker, came before Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M.. on charges of conspiring to defraud X. R. Dickey of £300, of having obtained £100 by' fraud from A. J. Shannon, and of having got £100 by fraud from IT. G. Brown. Respecting the conspiracy charge evidence wae given that in March accused took an office in Brunswick Buildings at £2 a week, mentioning that it was for a Mr. Barry, and paying a month's rent in advance. He was given notice to <|uit on account of the agent being doubtful of the business he did, and it was then noticed that the furniture had been obtained on the hire purchase system, and was taken back by the vendor. PARTNER WITH £300.

Nathaniel R. Dickey, of Grey Lynn, stuted that In reply to an advertisement in a newspaper inquiring for a partner in a business promising a return of £0 10/ a week for a capital of £300 he called at an ottice in Brunswick BuiMinjja and met accused. He was referred to X. 11. Barry, who liad signed the advertisement, and who was in an inner office. While accused was in the outer office, within hearing, witness saw Barry, who said lie needed a partner in hie business, which was Inlying and selling email business concern's, and that for £300 the partner could have a third share in the hitoinees. would get £0 10/ a week wages for canvassing, and a chare of the profits. 'Barry made statements about the scope of the 'business he was doing that ied witness to think there was a very large profit in it. and witness put in £300. He canvassed for three days, and Barry said lie did not think witness would make a success of it. and mentioned that a. man in Wellington liad offered to take a share in the business. Witness agreed to let the other man have his place, and they signed a deed, of dissolution, Barry giving I witness a promissory note for repayment ;of his money on June 30. Witness called later to see Barry and found the office closed. Later he found Haigh in King's -Chambers, and was told by him that Barry was ill in a private hospital. After other unsuccessful efforts to see Barry witness saw a solicitor, and wa« referred to the police. A. R. Milburn stated that accused took an office in King's Chambers on March j •27, paying a month's, rent in advance. RirrrHX of to per week. Allan J. Shannon, farmer, of Arney Road, testified thai in April, in consequence of an advertisement, he called at accused's office in King's Chambers, noticing that accused described himself as a "financial broker.' . Accused reprcI sented that lie needed a partner in the business with a capital of £100 to enlargo the scope of operations, for which tin' partner would get £5 a week aivl a share of the profits, which would proI bably bring the return up to £9 a week. The partner's business would 'be to confirm and verify the reports of canvasser? on businesses got for gale. Witness signed a deed of partnership, _ and pad £100 for a third share in the" busines*. In the course of several days which he saw no business* sold by accused, but had an advertisement put in the papers on accused's behalf for a partner in n photography 'business vrith £300 capital. Two applicants answered the advertisement. Haigh told witness he had an applicant, an auctioneer, who would take over his share of the busi-ne-s if lie liked, and witness agreed, signed a deed of dissolution, and got a j promissory note for the return of his I £100. but getting no money he referred I the matter to solicitors.

Henry fieorge Brown, labourer, of Woodland', near Waihi. gave evidence that in response to an advertisement he called at Haigh's office, and was offered a third share in the business for £100, representation being made that he would pet £.' 10/ a week for overseeing canvassers' reports, and * share of the profits that would living the return up to about £0 a week. The profits would, accused said, 'be divided monthly. Witness paid £100, signed the partnership agreement, and worked _ a week in the office. Accused asked him tn canvas? for business, and witness said he did not engage to do canvassing. Accused suggested that he could get a new partner, a man from Rotorua, and witness aereed to go out and signed a deed of dissolution, getting a p.n. for his £100. He asked for something for his week's work, and got £4.

John Mitchell stated that in reply to an advertisement he made inquiries of accused aliout h partnership. Accused offered a third share in his business for £200. saying that a working partner would got £0 a week and a share of the profits. Witness wanted a copy of the proposed aareement to take to his solicitor, but accused would not give the form of the agreement. He gave witness notes for tlio purpose of his solicitor's drawing up an agreement, but on his solicitor's report he did not proceed with the negotiations.

BOOKED FOR SYDNEY. Evidence was given that N. H. Barry opened an account with the Union Bank on March 27. with s eaah payment of £120. and thnt Haigh opened an account in the same bank on April 21 with a ,-ash payment of £23. Haigh's account wns now 10/ in credit. Two of the promissory notes given by accused were defective and would not be operative on Ibis account even if they were due. On 'May 4 Hnigh booked a passage to Sjdj ney in the name of John Reynolds, but cancelled it next day, and booked his trunk to Sydney in the name of Haigh. He was arrested on May 5 at the hotel at Papakura, when he gave the name of J. West. Detective Sergeant Hammond stated that when he asked accused about Barry the reply was that he had no chance of finding Barry. Witness searched the office in Kin«s Chambers and found a number of documents, including a quantity of typed agreements of partnership and typed dissolutions of partnership. There were also a number of letters received from all parts of the country in reply to advertisements. There, was a hook of businesses and apartments for sale, but no record of any sale having been made. There were ill accused's personal all'ects a number of receipts and accounts bearing the name of Barry. Witness said accused arrived in Auckland on March 15 from Sydney, and a man named Boland also arrived by the same bout. They started business in the Brunswick Buildings about three day? ' later under the name of Barry. Accused. »'ho wa« represented by Mr. R. A. Singer, pleaded net guilty, and n< committed t.» ih«- Supreme Court for f rial. '