A DEAL IN OIL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17408, 5 November 1930, Page 12

A DEAL IN OIL

YOUNG MAN CHARGED SERIES OF FRAUDS ALLEGED.' (For Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. Allegations that be falsely represented that he was the accredited representa tive, of the Mecca Oil Co., California, “one of the biggest and oldest oil companies in America,” and in that way obtained sums of money from men who answered his newspaper advertisements, were made against Morton Parker rimenlal, whose trial was commenced in the Supreme Court to-day. Mr. Justice Osier was on the bench, the Crown Prosecutor, Mr. P. S. K. Macassev, with Mr. C. Evans-Scott, conducting the prostitution, and Mr. J. P. B. Stevenson and Mr. A. C. Mantell Harding appearing for accused. - Mr. Evans-Scott said that P. Wimsett ami L. Patterson were, the first and lastpersons from whom it was alleged Pimental had falsely obtained money. There were four others. Alfred Dudley Smith, Ernest William Wakefield, Isaac Joseph Bason and Robert Leit.li - Bogg. in respect of whom, however, l’imentat was not charged, but they would be called upon to give evidence. With slight variations, it was- alleged that Pimentaf represented to prospective. agents (I) that be was the accredited representative of the Mecca Oil Co., with headquarters in California ; (2/ that the company had its own wells and refineries there; (3) that it was one of the oldest oil companies in the world : |4) that a person investing capital in the company under the conditions accused offered, could not he running any financial risk, as the investor would he covered ail the time by having the equivalent value of his capital represented by oil ; (5) that the company was in a position enabling it very shortly to be on a par with such companies as the Atlantic Union, Texas, and other well-known companies. “YOUR CROCK Oil, BUSINESS”

Pimental’s story was believed, and in some cases, the money paid over represented the life-savings of the parties. Various persons subsequently discovered that the accused was merely buying oil locally, and selling it at a slightly increased price. In not one case, it was alleged, bad the people who had dealt with the accused received oil to the same value as the money they bad paid to accused.

Evidence on tl'ic lines given in the lower court was tendered by Phillip Penny Wimsett, salesman, who described answering the advertisement, and his subsequent transactions, leading to a dispute in the office over accounts, which culminated in a- tight. "I said,” said witness, “ ‘I have had enough of you and your crook oil business.’ I was rising front a chair with the statement in my band, when be punched me in the jaw, and tried to grab' it away from me. Ho tore the statement. I retaliated,properly, and finished up by getting him against the wall and punching him properly. He cried out for help ahd eventually a man pulled me off him. J handed him my set of keys and said 1 wanted a settlement in full on the Monday morning.” Witness said that the statement he was handed on the following Monday showed that Pimental owed him £SO. Pimental, however, owed him £94 6s Id. which he had not received back.

Wimsett-also gave details of what had happened in a store in Dixon street. Empty drums bad been purchased from different oil companies, and be bad seen different weights of oils mixed. He taxed Pimental about that, and Pimental said: “Someone hits got to get it. ami they will have some fun with it too.”

( onsiderable further evidence was given by other witnesses alleged to have been victimised bv Pimental.

Representatives of oil companies detailed the transactions concerning Pimental’s purchase of oil. The case was adjourned (ill to-mor-row.