ALLEGED FALSE PRETENCES.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIV, Issue 256, 5 November 1910, Page 5

ALLEGED FALSE PRETENCES.

POLICE v. MELVA

, (Before Mr Florance, S.M.) At the Magistrate's Court, this morning, Lionel John Melva was charged with obtaining, by means of a false pretence, the sum of £1 5s from W. S. Sanders on August 4th, W. S. Sanders stated that he was a member of the firm of Sanders and White, blacksmiths, at Seddon. On the 4th of August last the accused came to him and told him that he was representing two or three whisky firms, and asked the witness for an advertisement to place in a hallstand which was to occupy a position in the Starborough Hotel. The advertisement was given to the accusea, and the sum of £1 ss'/paid,for it. There were different spaces for different prices, and the witness took the top centre space of the mirrored hallstand. The receipt produced was the one given by the accused for th© cheque he received from the witness. The accused also'asked the witness if he would care to have some mirror advertisements, and updnz the witness replying in the> affirmative, said "I'll send some along." The accused had also stated that the hallstand would be erected in about three weeks.

Mr McNab, for the defence, objected to this last statement, pointing out that the receipt spoke for itself. He quoted Stone on False Pretences to show that the case could not be termed one 'of false pretences. ,

This witness's statement was endorsed by his partner. v William Butler said^ that no on© had ever asked for permission 'to erect a mirror or hallstand in his hotel. He had been asked to give an advertisement for such a stand.

The Magistrate said that he could not make the accused criminally liable. There was a civil remedy if the mirror or "hallstand were lsdt erected within a reasonable time.

The1 information was dismissed