MYSTERY OF MISSING EMPLOYER.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 25 July 1929, Page 6

MYSTERY OF MISSING EMPLOYER.

CANVASSER CHARGED WITH FRAUD 4 ' ADVERTISING '' SOUTHLAND. INVEKCAIiGILL, Last Night. A middle-uged man named J/crcy Harry Ellis, abas Henry Miller, alias Miiler, avlio claimed to Do a canvasser for a Wellington firm, appeared before Air. W. H. WoodAvard in the Police Court to-day charged with obtaining money by fraud in that he falsely represented himself to be an advancjagent of the New Zealand Pictorial News and in the employ of the Government Publicity Department. He pleaded not guilty to throe charges pre!erred against him. Detective-Sergeant Hewitt said that accused had represented himself to be a representative of the New Zealand. p!«-1orial News and the Government Publicity Department, and had obtained deposits from business people avlio were tuid that photographs would betaken and published in the South Inland suppiomeni of the Pictorial News.. Accused had also said that a iilni was to be made and sia-wii in New Zealand and abroad tic had received the money and then disappeared and nothing further had been done. John Sprague Haywood, an accountant in a garage, said that during MayFair week a man called upon him in connecting with an advertising scheme. The man in question was in ihe dock. He told wiir.cvs that he represented the New Zealand GuvoriMnr-iit Publicity Department and was soliciting order's for advertising in eoiumerc.ai business at home and abroad. The only charge the Government would make would l\> 15s for a film. The men who Avere to take the pictures were in the vicinity and would take the film on the following day or that evening. The machinefor taking the photographs Avould operate in daylight or darkness. Thomas Lewis, storekeeper, at North Invercargill, said that he remembered, a man calling at his shop. The man, asked for 12s (id for the {dates after they Ave re finished with for publicity purposes. He said that Sir Joseph Ward sent him doAvn for the May Fan' and said that the pictures would beroproduced in the Pictorial Ncavs. Witness sold the Pictorial News in hisshop, but the picture of Ids shop had Lever appeared in it. William Lewis, son of the previous witness, said -that lie recognised the accused avlio had called at witness's shop about May Fair time. He said thai he Avas representing the? Publicity Department of tho Government amihad done the Avhole of the North Island and the top end of the South Island. Sir Joseph Ward had get "thenr" down for the May Fair and Avhttethoy were doing the May Fair they thought they would do the suburban shops. Accused was then put in the witness box and said that lbs proper name AvasPercy Harry Ellis. Tie had been going tinder the name of Miller for live years. He was employed ! y Webley and Co. in Wellington and they supplied him with sample photngi-'uhs. H-; understood that they had a contract with the Government to make picturesof the roads and industries of the South Island. Accused was to start from Picton and Avork south. Webley and Co. had a motion-picture apparatus similar to that which was used in Inveicargill during the May. Fair. Witness said that the orders had been sent to CanvastOAvn as they were iiKed. in. He did not say he was sent doAvn bv Sir Joseph Ward, but said that -Sir Joseph Ward was good to the people in sending a motion-picture camera to Invercargill. Accused admitted that '/e had been known as Percy in Auckland. He changed his name for reasons of Ms own. He had not sold advertising spaco in the Pictorial News when ho was known as Percy in Auckland. His counsel had written to Webley, but had received no reply. Mr. Heed, for accused, asked if the Court could hold the matter over nntiEllis was tried in Auckland. Ho would bice to attempt to locate Webley.

His Worship; Ellis, cannot you assfst your counsel 'to find Weblcy 1 Everything has been so i.;.»*.'t since the eruption I don't know when 1 Weblcy if.

The said that it' Weblcy was not found lie vrould have to assume there- was no \Yc!-loy. Accused ssiid flint Weblcy had his headquarters in O.nvastown. The Detect ive-Si-rgCiUit: Oanvastown is a strange plaue, tor a man ■•with n Government contniul to make his head-

quarters. '" The case wa> adjuurne-l ".ntil Satur