BOGUS TICKETS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 162, 11 July 1930, Page 5

BOGUS TICKETS.

BRISBANE ART UNION. PLUMBER'S FALSE PRETENCES «A DELIBERATE SWINDLE." WATSON SENT TO GAOL. For working 7 swindle in Auckland in connection wUh a' legitimate art union current in Queensland, William Thomas Watson, a plumber, aged 41, was sent to prison for one month by Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., at the Police Court this morning. Watson was charged, on eight counts with obtaining sums totalling £9 19/6 from various persons by falsely representing that the tickets were issued by the Golden Casket Art Union, Brisbane, by authority of the Queensland Government. Chief Detective Hammond prosecuted and Mr. Buisson represented Watson, who pleaded guilty to all charges. Detective Sergeant Doyle gave evidence that the Golden Casket Art Union was a legitimate scheme in Brisbane, controlled by the Queensland Government, the proceeds going to hpspitals and clinics in that State. Watson was in Brisbane about 12 months ago and evidently became, conversant with the lottery. On his return to Auckland he saw a printer and asked him to print 1000 art union tickets. The printer turned down the request, but Watson got 500 bogus tickets printed elsewhere. Witness produced the genuine ticket in the Golden Casket Art Union and also one of the bogus tickets issued by Watson. There was little difference between'the two. "These lotteries are drawn every ten days iinder supervision of the Queensland police and press," added Mr. Doyle. "Watson's tickets always gave the date of drawing and this led people who purchased them to believe that they were taking part in the genuine art union. I have known Watson for over 20 years. He is a good tradesman and has a wife and family of seven children." Mr. Hunt: How much did he make out of the sale of tickets? DetectiVe-Sergeant Doyle: He told me lie did not make more than £5. It is nearly. 12 months since he got the tickets printed. I'm. sure he made much more than £5 out of them. He takes all the responsibility. When he heard I was making inquiries about the matter he left Epsom, Avhere he was living, and went to Opotiki where I arrested him. He 'says he was driven to do this by poverty, but I'm sure that more of the proceeds of the tickets went in liquor than to his family. Mr. Buisson said it. was a fact that .Watson was driven by poverty to commit the offences. Ho* had only worked nine weeks since last November and had not yet been paid for three weeks' work he had performed. He had a family of seven children, the eldest being 15 and the youngest four. Watson had no assets and a petition in bankruptcy was pending against him. Counsel appealed for leniency in view of Watson's circumstances and the fact that he had such a large family to support. "He's not much good" to his family, apparently," said the magistrate. "He's carried on a deliberate swindle • for months and I cannot overlook that. He will be sentenced to one month's imprisonment." ,', .■•-.' - •