WOOL DEALER PROSECUTED.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XX, Issue 2063, 6 January 1925, Page 5

WOOL DEALER PROSECUTED.

NOT A. S. PATERSON'S AGENT CHARGE OF FALSE PRETENCE! Before Messrs J. McCarrol an Mostyn Jones, J.P.'s, at the Magis trate's Court this morning, Andrev Hamilton was charged with* obtain ing from Charles Dick, farmer, o Otewa, on November 24, goods to the value of £ls by means of a false pretence that he was the authorised agent of A. S. Paterson, Ltd., ol Auckland. A second similar charge was preferred against him in respect to goods obtained from William Kennedy, farmer, of Pio Pio, to the value of £8 Bs, on November 27. Sergeant Fearnley appeared for the police. Accused was not represented. Charles Dick said accused had bought from him three sheep skins in his own name, for which he paid by a cheque for £l. It was returned marked "no funds." He also bought a quantity of wool from witness, saying that he would send it to A. S. Paterson and Co., and send witness the railway weights. He bought the wool on behalf of A. S. Paterson and Co. If accused had not said he was Paterson's agent, witness would not have given him the wool which he valued at £ls. When the £1 cheque was returned he rang up Paterson's and they said they knew nothing of it and repudiated Hamilton as their agent. Witness did not know what had become of the wool. Noel Nicholls, wool and skin buyer, employed by A. S. Paterson and Co., said he had been the only person authorised to buy wool, skins and hides for Paterson's in the Waikato and Auckland districts since March, 1924. Witness knew the accused, who had written to him saying he was a dealer and asking for an appointment. He had never been an authorised agent of Paterson and Co., and had no authority to use their name. Witness had met accused in Auckland in July last and agreed with him on the prices Paterson and Co. would pay for wool, skins and hides consigned by accused on truck at Auckland. Witness gave him a list of prices. From time to time accused sent skins and wool to Auckland, and the cheques were sent sometimes to him and sometimes to the Bank of New Zealand at Te Kuiti. Witness had heard the accused was representing himself as Paterson's representative and warned him to stop doing so. The firm had written to several people with whom accused was dealing, repudiating him as their agent. The list produced was of purchases of wool and skins which accused had given witness, saying that he had been unable to obtain delivery of them because the roads were too bad. Two lots against the names of McGregor and Hill had come to hand, the others, to witness' knowledge, had not. William Kennedy said the cheque with which accused bought the wool from him was later dishonoured. Accused said he was a buyer for A. S. Paterson and Co., but was leaving them and going to Morton and May, of Auckland. He said a man named Moore was fixing up things in Auckland, and until then accused was paying out his own cheques. Accused pleaded not guilty, reserved his defence, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was fixed at self £2OO, and one surety of £2OO.