“LONG-FIRM” FRAUDS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 88, 5 July 1927, Page 6

“LONG-FIRM” FRAUDS

TRADERS LOSE MILLIONS Two men were sentenced at the Old Bailey, London, to twelve months’ imprisonment in the second divisiop for a series of long-firm frauds. They weVe William Neilson, 46, commission agent, Westcliff-on-Sea, and Robert Henry Hill, 47, agent, Laindon, and they admitted charges of obtaining goods by false pretences to the value of between £4OO and £SOO. Mr. G. F. Eastwood, prosecuting, said Neilson ordered goods from manufacturers in the north and west of En?; land, and subsequently Hill supplied the manufacturers with trade references to the effect that Neilson was a satisfactory customer. Neilson’s “oh fices” turned out to be a small bed room at the back of a house. His soie equipment was a portable typewriter' which he used to apply for goods anc which Hill used to write letters recommending him. After obtaining a small quantity of goods Neilson usually telephoned through a “rush” order, lfl lived at a small bungalow at LaiadoE owned by his wife. None of the manufacturers received a penny. Detective-Inspector Wiffln, of the Southend police, said that Neilson was a native of Glasgow, but went to Southend in 1914 and was employed on the tramways as a conductor and a point** man. He left of his own accord in IW‘ when he worked as a draper's canvasser, but got into bad company and took to drink. Hill was a native of Rochdale and was an engineer. He took over a goo d business from his father, but neglected it and it passed to a relative. His education helped him to assist Neilson i* the frauds. The Common Sergeant, Sir Henry Dickens, K.C., said these cases weft becoming a grave danger to the com* munity, and millions of pounds wer* being lost by the traders.