FOOTBALL SOUVENIRS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 25, 31 January 1928, Page 8

FOOTBALL SOUVENIRS.

ADVERTISING PHOTOGRAPHS.

PROSECUTION AGAINST AGENT

CONVICTED OF FALSE PRETENCES

A plea of not guilty was entered in the Police Court this morning before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., by Wesley Marriott Charles Webb (Mr. Hall Skelton) to a charge of on or about October 4, 1926, obtaining from Mark Smethurst, printer, of Newmarket, 2250 scoring cards and photographs of a total value of £18 17/6 by falsely representing that they were required by the New Zealand Rugby Football League.

Chief Detective Hammond prosecuted.

Evidence was given that accused went to the printer and ordered the goods, saying that they were for the New Zealand Rugby League. It was on this representation that he was given credit. In all, four different jobs were done for accused, consisting of advertising photographs, etc., of the* Dominion League team which toured England in 1926-27. He had never been paid for them.

C. A. Snedden, president of the New Zealand Rugby League Council, stated that accused had no authority from the council. Webb had assisted the League in many ways.

A. J. Morris, printer, of Avondale, said that he had printed a Ponsonby advertising card for accused on the understanding that payment was guaranteed by two prominent Ponsonby business men. Accused had given a wrong name and had paid only £1 and that only when criminal action had been threatened. Witness had done between £12 and £14 worth of work for Webb.

W. F. Prior, restaurant proprietor, stated that accused had told him that he would print him some menu cover cards free of charge if witness would give him the names of some of his customers to whom to go for advertisements. Witness had given him these names, but the cards had not yet been delivered.

Accused in evidence stated that Mr. Mair, manager of the League team, had suggested to him that the code was not getting vhe publicity that it deserved and that it would be a good thing for witness to get out some advertising photographs. Mr. Mair gave him a copy of the photograph and he had the block made. He did not represent to Smethurst that he was acting for the League. He made it clear that he was acting for himself and that the bills were to be sent to him. He had regularly received the bills. Witness had been unable to - pay because some of the advertisers had failed to do so, and also because he had been let down by a man who had undertaken to sell photographs of the team at one shilling each. Witness understood that these had been sold but he had not received any of the money.

Cross-examined, accused said that he did not give Morris a wrong name. The name mentioned by that witness was of the secretary of the scheme who was to take delivery goods. The menu cover cards were now ready. He had been hung up in the obtaining of advertisements.

Mr. Hunt said that lie believed the printer's story. He would, however, give accused a chance and fine hi™ £10 or in default 21 days. Accused would be allowed a week in which to find the money.