PHANTOM TOWN CLOCK.

Waikato Times, Volume 99, Issue 16655, 21 November 1925, Page 8

PHANTOM TOWN CLOCK.

PECULIAR CASE AT HUNTLY. BUSINESS MEN APPROACHED. (By Telegraph—Special to Times.) HUNTLY, Saturday. A middle-aged man named George Wilson appeared at the Police Court yesterday before Messrs E. J. Farrell and Jones, J’s.P., cu charges of obtaining money by false pretences. Four of the charges were that he induced four business men of the town to pay him £i each, receipts being given, for advertising their businesses for two years, and a further payment of £5 for a phantom town clock scheme. Accused slated he intended to erect a town clock in the rapin street. The clock was to have a large mirror in the centre, upon which he was to place advertisements, lie told some of his victims that the timepiece would be erected in one week; to.uthers he stated it would not be erected for three weeksThe other chaige was that he obtained hoard and lodging valued at £4 by false- pretences, and disappeared without paying. Accused was trying to do business with another business man, when the latter was called out for a few minutes, and upon his return he found that a cheque form had disappeared. This it was subsequently ascertained had been filled in for £2, the signature of a business man attached, and cashed at the Huntly Hotel. When the cheque wa. presented at the bank it was returned marked “ signature not alike.” Accused pleaded not guilty to all charges, and was committed for trial at the Supreme Court at Hamilton. The accused has several other charges to answer at Pukekohe for obtaining money for advertising on the phantom clock.