NOT AS REPRESENTED

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 28, 27 October 1932, Page 10

NOT AS REPRESENTED

Spurious Gold Medals Sold JEWELLER CONVICTED By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, Oct. 26. Charged with obtaining money by false pretences, Norris Blaxall, aged 39, a jeweller, and Luke Stephen Dolan, aged 27, a ship’s steward, appeared for trial before Mr. Justice Ostler and a jury in the Supreme Court to-day. It was alleged that they had made spurious gold medals and sold them to gold buyers, representing the medals to be solid 18 carat gold. The Crown Prosecutor said that accused took advantage of the present gold boom and imposed on various jewellers and gold buyers in Christchurch. Blaxall, who was a maufacturing jeweller, found it easy to make the spurious medals, coating a silver core with 18carat gold so that jewellers would get a good test from the outside. Several jewellers and gold buyers gave evidence as to having bought medals from Blaxall, who told some purchasers that he was selling the medal for a woman or for a relative, and others that he was hard up. All the witnesses said they tested the edge of the medal and found it gold of the quality stamped.

Constable Parrish said Blaxall admitted selling a medal to a secondhand dealer at more than its true value. He had sold several medals which he brought from Wellington for the purpose, but in no case had he told the buyer that the medal was solid gold. Dolan said he had been given the medals by Blaxall to sell in Christchurch. He was to be paid expenses and was to receive other money when he returned to Wellington, One jeweller cut a medal in halves and discovered the core of silver and refused to buy it. Dolan then communicated with Blaxall, who came to Christchurch and took charge, selling several medals. The jury, after a retirement of three hours, found Blaxall guilty on all counts, and Dolan not guilty on all counts. The jury added a rider recommending mercy on the ground that the gold buyers had an opportunity of purchasing the medals at their face value. Blaxall was remanded till Friday for sentence. .