A FILM VENTURE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 189, 11 August 1922, Page 6

A FILM VENTURE.

CHARGE OF FRAUD. A SERIES OF PARTNERSHIPS. VERDICT OF GUILTY RETURNED. Several charges of fraud were preferred against Charles Alfred Healey, alia? William Munro in the Supreme Court before Mr. Justice Stringer. The allegations were that about. December 2U, 192-1, the accused obtained £25 and £125 from Cyril Krntst Bowley by representing thnt he was an importer of lllms and had got his films from America. It \v;is alleged that he had also stated that he had the sole rights for Xcn- Zealand and that the films had never been exhibited in ,Xew Zealand before and further that be would take the said Cyril E. Bowleg i» partnership for a period of three years. Somewhat similar representations were made in respect of sums of £25 and £125 from Walter Feck, £25 and £113 from Ellis , Redmond, and £25 and £125 from Ceo. Flower Harrison. Mr. Meredith, for the Crown, said that tlio accused obtained money by netting up a series of partnerships. lie obtained a number of <.ld iilms known in the trade as "junk." He commenced operation* in Auckland with enticing advertisements asking for £150 as a half-share in a venture of exhibiting films in the country. There were a number of applicants and depds of partnerships were actually drawn up. L'nder the agreement the applicant was to tako the first £0 of the proceeds and the accused the second £0. After that the profits were to be divided equally. He represented that the films wore important and counsel said that films were so popular in this country that people would not take them unless they were of recent production. The "junk" film could not go far before it was detected. When \ the applicants got started in the country the accused invariably made propositions that he was going away and that the various partners take over the profits. Agreements were drawn up to this effect and signed. The contention of the Crown wns that ho did not intend to come back. The accused paid £07 for the films and in the space of four months obtained £900.. including £300 which was withdrawn in the partnership yen- ' tures. Except for complaints there was no knowing how much more he might havo obtained. Evidence was given by Ellis Redmond and the other alleged victims as to the methods of the accused. Robert \V. Haddow, sales manager of the N.Z. Picture Supplies, Ltd., gave evidence to being introduced to the accused. and being told that the latter required some old films. He sold about 17,000 feet to the accused. In reply to hs Honor wtness said that old or "junk" films were of little com- , mercial value. People who gave private , showings nt home usually came in for this clues of film. Cross-examined by Mr. Allan Moody, \ for the accused, witness said that during his eighteen months with the Film Supplies Company it had bought nothing hut new films. It, however, had "junk" lilms in stock, and had sold a quantity. It was a practice to alter titles on pictures. Georage Calder, picture proprietor, ' gave evidence as to the accused interviewing him at Hutitly regarding the screening of a film. Bills were stuck up, but the film was, according to the witness, a "take down," as it was not true to the description of the bills. Cross-examined, witness said the night of the screening wae a good one, but the audience expressed its disappointment in not being shown what was advertised. Mr. Moody, addressing the Jury, said lie did not intend to call the accused. He contended that the prisoner had an established business, and that he had given the partners a fair deal. In taking the men into the business he had only done what others had done before. There ' was ho evidence of frnud. His Honor, in summing up, said that the broad issue was whether the whole business was genuine or a swindle. If ' the accused had an established business, why should he require partners? It seemed extraordinary that he should : take the same money from various per- , sons to work tlic same parts of the country. Each one was to be sent out ' with different pictures, and ft was the suggestion of the Crown that by the time they had discovered that there was nothing in it the accused would probably be o"ut of the country. Tl.e jury, after a retirement of 15 minutes, brought in a verdict of guilty. The prisoner was remanded until tomorrow for sentence.