GUILT ADMITTED

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 120, 14 February 1935, Page 15

GUILT ADMITTED

Money Obtained By False Pretence SALE OF A CAR Following his sale of a car winchi he purchased from , Dorainl “ Auckland, on the hire-purchase sy stem before his payments were completed John Denton French, a motoi dcale , of Auckland. 37 years of age, "’ a s a J rested in Sydney last month. He faced a charge in the Magistrates Comt. Wellington, yesterday morning of ■ ly representing that a car was his o n and unemeumbered, property, and t obtained from John Shelly the sum £235. He pleaded guilty, and me magistrate. Mr. J. Miller S.M.. com niitted him for sentence. Cyril Frederick Seaward, assistant manager of Dominion Motors, Auckland, said be had known accused tor two years, during which time ne usually followed the occupation ot motor salesman. Accused approached him on October 9 in connection with the purchase of a car, and finally agreed to purchase it under the hirepurchase system, trading in another make as part payment. The price stipulated for the deal was £435. and £235 was allowed for the trade in. The remaining £2OO was to be paid by October 24, a week after the deal was completed. Accused gave a promissory note for this amount, but it was-not honoured. Accused took possession of the new car on or about October 17. Witness had since seen the same car in the possession of Mr. Shelly, of M ellington. He received news in January that accused had been located in Wellington. He had no authority given to him to sell the car to Shelly- It was still the property of Dominion Motors. Cross-examined by Mr. T. P. McCarthy. who represented accused, witness said he knew French was a salesman. and appreciated the fact that the car was being purchased for resale. Accused could not legally sell it. however, until his promissory note had been honoured. He would not mind the car being resold if the balance due on it were paid. Accused's negotiations for the sale of the ear to him were described by John Shelly, of Independent Motor Sales. Witness bad examined the car and offered £235 for it. Accused had showed annoyance at this offer, describing it as ridiculous. A few days later, however, he had accepted it, after further bartering. He admitted that he had purchased the car from Dominion Motors in Auckland for £195 cash. He stated that it belonged to him, and said that as a motor salesman he knew it was a criminal offence to sell the car if it wore not paid for. Witness made out a cheque for the amount, and received a registration certificate for the car in French’s name. He later ascertained from Dominion Motors that it was their car. Accused was then on board the Monowai bound for Sydney, and lie arranged for an extradition order to bring him Lack to New Zealand. After Shelly had laid information against accused. Detective N. J. McPhee said that a warrant was issued for French’s arrest, and lie was provisionally arrested in Sydney on January 13. Witness had executed the original warrant in Sydney on January 24. ' Accused when arrested had in his possession a bank draft for £2Ol, and notes amounting to £47. He said some of this money had been received from Shelly. He had received the full amount which Shelly paid him, and the car in question was the one he had bought ’from Dominion Motors.