DRAPERY GOODS

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 21, 25 July 1933, Page 11

DRAPERY GOODS

SALES BY AUCTION

ALLEGED THEFT AND FALSE

PRETENCES

Details o£ the scheme alleged by the prosecution to have been employed by a Polish Jew whereby he obtained drapery goods and sold them by auction in country districts were given in the Supreme Court at tho trial yesterday afternoon and today, of David Kdzental, alias David Ross, aged 22. He was charged with stealing £.30 6s 7d in 11101103-, tho property of Alfred George Barton, and there were also two charges against him of obtaining goods valued at £158 19s- Id from Reginald G. Kain by false pretences. THE CROWN'S CASE. It was alleged by tho Crown that Eozental had failed to account for the value of goods obtained by him from Mr. Barton's store in Kilbirnie for sale on commission. In regard to the other charges, ip was alleged that the accused, on tho false representation that tho articles ho was ordering were for Mr. J. Kerslake, a Mastcrton auctioneer, obtained supplies of sheets, towels, pillow cases, and other goods from Kain's warehouso ifi Wellington. Later, -in Auckland, the Crown also alleged,, he .obtained from Kain's branch there goods valued at £50 18s 2d by ropresenting that he was Kerslake. Evidence was given that Rozental, having obtained supplies, then arranged auction sales of tho goods in the Wairarapa and towns on the East Coast and pocketed the proceeds. Tho goods, it was claimed, were sold at under cost price, showing that when they wero ordered by the accused ho had no intention of paying for them. Kozental was arrested at Eotorua on May 19, and just prior to his arrest it was stated that ho had telephoned the Auckland branch of Mr. Kain's warehouse doubling tho order he had given previously for goods valued at £50 18s 2d. Tho Auckland branch manager became suspicious, and tho second order was not filled. When arrested Eozental had in his possession £74 in cash, and £39 worth of Kain's goods. Mr. P. S. K. Macassey, Crown Prosecutor, in giving an outline of tho caso for the prosecution, said the allegation of tho Crown was that Kozental'had set out on a scheme for taking down those people from whom he obtained goods. The accused- was a Polish. Jew, and arrived, in New Zealand in 1928. He and his brother had a. small drapery store at! Newtown, and since 1932 he had been hawking drapery goods. SELLING PRICE OF GOODS. Maurice George Kain, an assistant in his father's warehouse, was closely questioned by Mr. J. Moltzer, counsel for the accused, on a schedule of prices, prepared from, auction sheets, at which, goods were sold. Witness admitted that not all the goods wore sold at under cost, but said that on the average they were. • • ! John Albert Edward. Korslake, auctioneer, of Masterton, said that Kozental went away from, Mastorton owing him £30. After having a sale at Dannevirko he was to return and scttlo up, but he did not_ come back, and the- money was still owing. He gavo Rozental no authority _to order goods in his name. Several other witnosses wore called by; tho Crown before Jeading evidence on tho charge relating to the goods obtained from, IJarton. . Alfred Goovgo Barton, draper, Kilbirnie, said that as a result of a visit to him. by Kozental ho agreed to lot the accused have- goods to sell at 10 per cent, commission on tho marked prices. Rozental had received goods from him to the value of £42 17s 4d, but beyond one cash, payment of £2 10s, tho accused had not accounted to him for the goods or the proceeds of his sales. Kozontal had no authority to sell things below the marked price.

(Proceeding.)