MECCA OIL CO.

Wairarapa Age, 5 November 1930, Page 5

MECCA OIL CO.

ALLEGATIONS OF FRAUD AGAINST PIMENTAL. TRIAL OPENED IN WELLINGTON. SERIOUS CHARGES. WELLINGTON, November 4. Allegations that he falsely represented that he was the accredited representative 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 are made against Morton Parker Pimental, whose trial was commenced in the Supreme Court to-day. Mr. Justice Ostler is on the Bench and the Crown Prosecutor, Mr. P. S. K. Macassey, with Mr. C. EVans Scott is conducting the prosecution. Mr. J. F. B. Stevenson and Mr. A. C. Mantell Harding are appearing for the accused. Mr. Evans >Seott said that P. Wimsett and L. Patterson were the first and last persons from whom it was alleged that Pimental had falsely obtained money. There were four others, Alfred Dudley Smith, Ernest William Wakefield, Isaac Joseph Bason and Robert Leith Begg, in respect of whom, however, Pimental was not charged, but they would be called to give evidence. With slign.. variations it was alleged that Pimental represented to prospective agents: (1) That he was the accredited representative of the Mecca Oil Co., with headquarters in California; (2) that the company had its own oil 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 the accused offered could not be running any financial risk, as investors would be covered all 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. 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 slightly increased prices. In not one ease, it was alleged, had the people who had dealt with the accused received oil to the same value as the money they paid to the accused.

Evidence on the lines given in the Lower Court was given by Phillip Percy Wimsett, a salesman, who described answering the advertisement and his subsequent transactions leading to a dispute in the office over accounts which culminated in a fight. “I said,” said witness, “I have had enough of you and your crook oil business. I was rising from a ehair with the statement in my hands when he punched me in the jaw and tried to grab it away from me. He tore the statement. I retaliated properly and finished up by getting him against the wall and punching him properly. He cried out for help, and eventually a man pulled me off him. I handed him my set of keys and said I wanted a settlement in full on Monday morning.” Witness said that the statement he was handed on the following Monday showed that Pimental owed him £5O. Pimental, however, owed him £O4 6s Id., which he had not received back. Wimsett gave details of what had happened in a store in Dixon Street. Empty drun.s had been purchased from different companies and he had seen different weights of oils mixed. He taxed Pimental about that and Pimental said, “Someone has got to get it and they will have some fun with it, too.” Considerable further evidence was given by other witnesses alleged to have teen victimised by Pimental. Representatives of oil companies detailed transactions concerning Pimental’s purchase of oil. The case was adjourned till to-morrow.—(P.A.)