ANCONA SHEEP DIP CASE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 4 March 1919, Page 5

ANCONA SHEEP DIP CASE.

A REMARKABLE CHARGE OP

FRAUD

BY TELEGRAPH—PRRSF ASSOCIATION.

AUCKLAND, Mar. 3. Lhe trial of John C. -Harrison upon a number of charges of fraud arising out of dealings in a compound known as "Aneona ,>heep Dip" was begun at the Supreme Court to-day before Mr Justice Hosking. Accused was arrested kst year at i a j°°umlr and- extradited to New Zealand. The trial was delayed by the epidemic, and by the difficulty in getting certain Crown witnesses from Australia, with the result that -accused was over ten months in custody, lie indictment contained fire charges of obtaining cneques by means ot Ta]«e pretences, with alternative charges of stealing cheques and of stealing the money they represented, ihe alleged offences relate to prsone resident in Te Awamutu, Te Kniti, Marton New Plymouth, and Palmerston North. Harrison was ale© charged that on various dates in January and February, 1918, he obtained credit by means of fraud from five Auckland 'firms or business men Mr Tole, opening the case, said the series of transactions referred to in the indictment constituted one of the grossest pieces of imposture ever diecovered in New Zealand, and was carj ut Wltt a r«finement that showed the practised hand. Five charges ot false pretences all related t© %nesof an aggregate value of £300 odd. The cheques accused obtained oy false representations that certain packages df powder contained good and effective sheep dip preparation, which was sold by accused under the name of "Aneona Sheep Dip," would be shown to be worthless for that purpose. In addition, accused also fraudugntly obtained credit to the extent of f 234 m procuring a quantity of goods, including sulphur, soda and alum, boxes, printed carton®, pamphlets, and other printed matter. relating to the dip. Harrison arrived from Australia on December 26, 1917. He told the Customs officials that he was a farmer travelling for the benefit of his health Within ten days he secured the lease of premises in Queen street for a term of three years, at a rental of £165 per year- He represented himself to the ur Vord as a member of the firm or John Harrison and £ons, warehousemen." By March 5 following h e was out of New Zealand, leaving the premises derelict, but in the meantime *« had succeeded in accumulating £1000 by mean® of bogus sheep dip. Although the present charges related to only about £300, acensed went on a journey down the 'Main. Trunk line, in the course of which he persuaded per- ; son® to buy quantities of his preparation, and to give open cneques in payment. He declared that the dip was better. than certain well-known preparations, and that it lad been used successfully in the Argentine and elsewhere. He offered thenv-agencies, and promised to send canvassers to push,' the sales. When the canvassers failed to arrive :some of the victims made enquiries, but by that time Harrison was on the high seas. Samples of the powder were - sent for analysis, and were pronounced worthless as sheep" dip or disinfectant, the estimated value of a 5s packet being about (Jd.