SALE OF ELECTRIC LAMPS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 193, 16 August 1922, Page 7

SALE OF ELECTRIC LAMPS.

DEALINGS WITH FOUR FIRMS. j FALSE PRETENCE ALLEGED. IN OBTAINING CREDIT. The sequel to the recent operations of a man who arrived in Auckland and persuaded four leading firms of electrical ■ merchants to give him credit for purchases of electric lamps on the representation that he would act exclusively for each firm in the sale of these goods, culminated in the appearance of James Francis Nelligen iv the .Supreme Coi.Tt before Mr, Justice Stringvr and jury. The firms involved were the National Electrical Company for ioO 15/3, the Electric Construction Company £42 1/, Crosher and "Sons £10 7', and Turnbull and Jones £23 4/10. Mr. V. R. Meredith conducted the case for the ' Crown and Mr. Allan Moody for the accused. Sir. Meredith, outlining the ' case for the Crown, said the accused ' arrived on April 12 from Sydney, under the name of Nelligen, and left on May 5 as Nelson. Most of the electrical tirrus ' took up a particular class of lamp and ran it. The accused interviewed the firms concerned, and said that he wou'fl t undertake to devote himself to selling their lamps exclusively. By reason ot ' this the firms arranged to give him , credit. In obtaining this he would not * bo required to back the sums advanced until May 20, so that when he left for ' Sydney on May 5 the time had not expired. The lamps had been traced, and ' it was found that the accused was sell- ! ing at cost or under cost, and it there- ! fore could not be inferred that he was i making a living out of it. A incent O'Connor, accountant, em- ' ployed by the National Electrical Com- • pany, stated that on April IU accused ' was introduced to him. Accused told | witness that he was a lamp salesman j in Australia and produced documents in j support of the statement. He wished f to start in Auckland. The accused was given £25 credit on the arrangement ] that he sell ithe ■firm's lamps exclusively. The date of payments in Auck- , land was between the :iOth and the end of the month following advances. Tho firm would not have given credit if it had "been known that .the accu=«d was j selling other lamps. . George L. Thorhurn, manager of the Electric Construction Company, gave < evidence on similar lines to the previous , witness nnd said that as a result of re- , presentations it was agreod to give the 'accused credit for £">0 on condition, that, , he paid back on the -20th of the month , following receipt of the lamps and that he dealt in them exclusively. ( John M. Crosher, of Messrs. Crosher . and Sons, said that his firm gavo the , accused £25 on -the condition that he 1 mould sell their lamp?! only. Thfe , accused agreed to this arrangement. To Mr. Moody: The accused did not suggest that it depended on the sale as to whether he would devote him.-;e!f : exclusively to witness' lamp*. For the defence, Mr. Moody submitted that the evidence of the witnesses was that the question of credit was not so much determined on the statement that the accused would confine himself to the sale of lamps alone, but the fact that he represented that he was a good salesman. He contended that the accused intended to pay for the goods, and left for Sydney on legitimate business. The jury returned a verdict of guilty. TWELVE MONTHS IMPOSED. The accused came up for [Sentence this morning, when Mr. Moody sail! that Nelligan was a married man with cue child, and it was because the latter was not well that he understood that he went over to Australia. Counsel asked that tlie prisoner be giVen an npjior- ' tuiiity to make restitution with the assistance proin'sed by his father. His Honor said he could not sec his wav to grant probation. The facts were that | j the accused arrived from Australia on 1 j April 12. and got away on May ."> with , over £"2(HI belonging to certain Auckland ; firms. His Honor imposed a sentence nf i, 12 months' imprisonment. I,