GRIEVOUS BLOW TO GRIEVE

NZ Truth, Issue 1127, 7 July 1927, Page 7

GRIEVOUS BLOW TO GRIEVE

Go^Getter Johnson Discovers Ma& Woney In Time-tables ,

-„! . , (Prom "N.Z. Truth's", Special Dunedin Representative.) ;■'.•;■: MQWADAYS it is astounding how many dowiay birds evolve unscrupulous schemes and expe ct to get away ry^itti them.

FOR .instance, hearken unto .the -get-. ■ rich-quick methods of - James. Johnson, a Dunedin-canyasser, who has.-., already; listed against himself a conviction for, ; false pretences. . ; i Approaching prospective clients with a railway arid tramway' time-table, James— with thfi usual loquacity' qf an efficient " salesman— would soon j.convince his prospect .of the advantages to be gained from an.adl In one of* these handy little booklets. ; : . Yes, this looked an attractive.' scheme tb Chris. Tyson,' ' a' coal niercharit, of Musselburgh, and Robert : Haldane Grieve, a, dairyman, both of whom gave orders... '.■' . V ; But • matters did not rest .at -that. Could he have a deposit, Johnson queried, and was obliged with 10/- and i7/6.\ ■ '• ':■■■ ; - ■■ ■" • ■'■ ••■■- ".>'■;■/ '■■■:: :..'■■. vGrieve's sensibilities, however, were gi-ievously wounded -by the time Johnson, h^d wound up the spring of his little money.-niakirig machine. ~: > ; ;■.-. , 1 ;..-' Three precious months . passed. / : Sovfar^ as Tysonjand; Grieve were.; concerned, the dismal thought: "Oh, , where, oh, .-where are my • time-tables?" fa||fd:to quell the | internal rumblings "■'.of wrath. \ Both scanned the;; city; with, a;, keen eye for the astute canvasser.; .they visited. his office at 8 Vogal Street,. but on every occasion the bir_d ; had flown. ' ; ; Incidentally, . the elusive ' Jphnson is said to have improved the' shiriing hour by. collecting- old suits and hats' with the promise that they f-would ;be- given ;a newjlease of: life. ' ■>'■ ; j This 'was f carried into effect, but not m . the manner desired .by owners, many of whom were left lamenting. 1 "While 'for ■ thre^; , months neither; Tyson nor Grieve saw anything of Johnson, a more potent factor m the destinies 'i/ of ;% life v^ had % hini^ i well shadowed. • : ..■■-■■ ■_ '•■'; ..;. .; : ;'"; .' ( '.■■"' . . ' -. ;.,; On vJune /14 Johrisoh jreceived an invitation to, 1 the detective office" to ; answer^a'ifew. polite concerning his .jfailure to fulfil the" conditions ,; of , his. probation; ; ;.■■•■ ■■.'--■•:.•■ ' /,;; : T"he question of the orders 'was raised, 1 but with an inkling that „ this might arise, Johrisoh ; endeavored tp lull the suspicions of the detectives by his frank 'admission that the printing, fjrms :would not ; do .the border -without cash pay■l.'rrient. ■;■;;■;'■:■' ; .'"i:-,-:^ ";.." : ; . ' -r ,- ;;. i ' Other things ; had him up,, hutit • was -on- account of the demand for payriient that -he had collected the depositsl\; h '■.■■■/■..-■■; ; : "--;: v;- '. ■'■' ■■■•■"■'.. .-;■" : ButT-to any reasonable citizen the fact' that: -Ithree months t had "passed since :he : had'^secured the orders .and deposits— rwith np definite result-T---wo ujdl- scarcely ~ suggest- that; it was

mere procrastination on r the part of James. 5 " ; " '-• - ' * : 'V- " ,' : '- : :' v•; '. The latter, at any rate, realised that it is never too .late >to mend.; .When- he received notification orij June ,13-^i fateful day ,' on which to receive a conrmuriicatibn from /the: police— he setabout.putting his house m order. - , ; He ■immediately .got into touch with Frederick H. ♦- Tait, a printer, and asked : him to \quote for printing ■time'tahles.' ; -■■•.:/'■.■■•.■-: . .•.".-: -■.-■'■■ .; V ■ ' There ■■ is,- however, one very distinct fly m the ointment so far as James and' printers are -..concerned. '': ; ;■ : |t is alleged, that .the financial aspect' was' hoi too promising arid he had^en^rff used business.: . Ge'brge ' Copper, ' another printer, stated that Jaihes had approached- him about. 12 .months ago, but not since. : Of course, -James ' denied any ••. attempt, at fflse pretences. He \ had printed -(byer a space of time about 50 different orders :fpr time-tables. v His trouble iri.the present case was that the', printWfff%nis would not meet his orders v.unfe'ss ' cash payment was made. It was for this reason that he had asked for deposits. ..-' \ -■ ■ ,■ Chief Detective Cameron: Didn t you give your office address as 8 Vpgal Street? — Yes. "■■■.'.:■: '.. V. . Isn't it a fact' that this office is locked up. all day?— No. • .Didn't you promise to deliver these orders m two or three days? — No. Is it not a fact that you waited . until June 13 before Seeing about getting these orders done?— -I :-• couldn't get them done. ' ' So you received the money m March and made ho attempt to get the orders until June, a few days before you were arrested?— .The railway time-table is not issued until the end of , April- and then the automatic- telephones upset my arrangements. _ - >:...: Didn't you take: orders fpr hats and suits at, this office In Vogal Street?^— Ygs ■ ■ ' : * ' *' "'"■' '■ ' '■ " ' '■ •..'■*■-'■■■-'■•'. : - -. Lawyer C. J. 'I. White, who endeavored 'to sift the good frpm the. had m the case on behalf of- Johnson,- objected •' to this question. 'T don't , see what this has to do. with- the false pretences charge, l^ lie remarked^ -./., . \ The magistrate concluded the; affair • by remarking that the ;::r;testU;was whether the. whole; thing was a smart practice or swindling. ;•: ' :..■"-'. . ■•■■ -^ He blew the roof off Johnson's^ argument and. said there was no'?' doubt m his .'own blind that accused! :'; was guilty, and sentenced him Jo; -i '18 -months'- reformative dejtentibn. .^ -Counsel for Johnson had •■' the last word,- intimating that: h^ v .intended toappeal.- -; : '■■ ■■■ ■ .',• '■'■' _ ; ; -v - ; v--' '■'' :'■■.■- . : - v !y.:r : '■:&£&<