EASY MONEY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3802, 25 January 1927, Page 7

EASY MONEY.

CHARGE OF FALSE PRETENCES. GEORGE THOMSON SWANN BEFORE COURT. A sequel to certain get-rich-quick schemes which caused no small stir in Dunedin nearly three years ago was heard before Mr J. R. Bartholomew in the City Police ~ Court on Wednesday, whe’n- J George Thomson Swann appeared to answer a charge of fals. .pretences. The specific charge was that on or about March 13, 1924, at Dunedin, he acted with intent to defraud Margaret Gibson of a sum of £lBO by means of .. certain false pretence—namely, by falsely representing that he was supplying the New Zealand and South Sc-tis Exhibition Company’ wi’.’i .aachinerv and vis obtaining from the sales of such machinery’ a profit, and that by’ investing the said sum if £lBO with him Margaret Gibson would participate in the .profits coming from the sales pf such-machinery. Mr A. ,G. Hanlon appeared for the accused. Chief Detective Cameron asked for a” remand till Friday, January 28. and said he would be prepared to proceed on that date. Accused was remanded till the 2"h inst. Mr Hanlon applied for bail. Chief Detective Cameron said he had no objection to bail, but he asked that it be substantial. Accused had just been c ;tradited from South Australia on this and other charges. Mr Hanlon said his client had been on bail over there —himself in £lOO and a surety' for £lOO, and reporting daily’ to the poli< which he did. The Magistrate: Is this a case of a man clearing out of the country with a charge hangh" over him? .Chief Detective Cameron said the proceedings had been instituted after the man had left the country.' Mr Hanlon said he went away’ in a Union Company’s bo . over his own name. There was no secrecy. - The Chief Detective said that the complainants discovered they had been tricked after the defendant had left the country. The Magistr. te asked i? there were any’ other charges. The Chief Detective said he understood that there would be approximately £2OOO involved, and in all about half a dozen charges. The Magistrate: Well, it is a case for substantial bail. He fixed bail at accused in £5OO and two sureties of £250 each, a condition being that accused report daily to the nolice.