FRAUD ALLEGED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 183, 4 August 1932, Page 3

FRAUD ALLEGED.

MONEY OWING FOR PRODUCE. DEALER AND FARMERS. A somewhat unusual case came before Mr. Justice Smith and a jury of twelve in the Supreme Court this morning when George Cooper fTackson, an elderly man, was charged on five counts with having obtained credit bv fraud between February, 1931, and May, 1932. The amounts concerned were £15 from P. A. Miller at Pukckohe, £168 from H. Waterliousc at Te Kauwhata, £130 from L. Marinovich at Henderson, £140 from M. Pender at Henderson and £72 from 11. E. Cole at Kaukapakapa.

The Crown Prosecutor said that accused went round to a number of farmers and orchardists, got produce from them, representing that he had a banking account, was a substantial man and intended to pay for the goods, whereas the Crown alleged that he had no banking account, never had the means to pay and never intended to pay.

P. A. Miller, farmer, Pukekohc Hill, stated that on February of this year Jackson called and wanted to buy produce. He said he was representing either 53 or 5(3 chain stores about Auckland. Pulling out of his pocket a roll of notes accused asked witness to take a. deposit on the first load of potatoes. Witness took £5 and gave a receipt. Accused said he was as safe as the Bank of England and was worth up to £400 in the Post Office Savings Bank. Witness said it would suit him better to pay at the end of the month. The first load of 74 bags of potatoes was carted away on February 15 and he said he would bring some money the, day after. Next day he asked witness to sell a used truck for £180, as he had bought a new one. Witness did not get any more money on that day, but accused took away 74 more bags of potatoes, and ordered a third lot for the following morning. As accused did not bring any money on the second day, witness refused further supplies and handed accused a bill for £15, the value of the potatoes supplied. The roll of notes was tho principal reason why witness gave accused credit, and he was also influenced by the statement that accused had £400 in the Post Office Bank. When accused called for the third load witness refused to let him have any more until payment was made. Accused said he would pay at the end of the month, bus witness had never been paid.

Cross-examined by counsel for accused, the witness said the conversation about the Bank of England and the accused's £400 in the Post Office Savings Bank took place on the second, not the first visit of accused. Witness admitted that his memory was not too good, and that in the lower Court he had said it was the Auckland Savings Bank. Sales of Apples. Henry Waterhouse, orchardist, Te Kauwhata, said he supplied accused with about 1000 cases of fruit, apples, pears, and grapes, between February and March last, and the representations regarding payment were somewhat similar to those described by the first witness. Witness got a £10 deposit. The account was to be paid on March 5, but after the third consignment accused altered the date to the 15th. Witness said he was "getting hard up," and must have £50 or so. Accused replied that he would go round his customers in the Waikato, Hauraki, and elsewhere, and get some""money. Later he came back with a "hard luck story" and no money. Witness made inquiries, and refused to supply any more fruit. Witness and accused were to meet in the office of witness' lawyer in Auckland, but Jackson telephoned, to say that he would bring the whole of the money, £168, the next day. He never came, and witness did not see him again until the case came on at the lower court. To accused's counsel: Witness got judgment against accused for £152, but accused went bankrupt almost immediately afterwards. Evidence was given also by Murray M. Pender, orchardist, Henderson, and Lovre Martinovich, orchardist, Oratia. Cross-examined, the latter said that accused did not represent himself as having an account in the bank, but that up to £500 he was "as safe as the bank." The case is proceeding.