GETTING RICH BY GIVING AWAY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 140, 8 March 1919, Page 7

GETTING RICH BY GIVING AWAY

FR-BIS CIGARS AD LIB. ■ The rise of a small retailer to the position 'of managing director of a well-known AVost End firm, with a turnover of half a million pounds yearly, and his "unrestrainable generosity"- in giving- away "showers of cigars," -were mentioned- at Bow Street, London, during the renewed hearing of tho case, against Walter (Martin, managing director of Martins, Ltd., tobacconists, Piccadilly.-' The .suminoiisea wero for alleged attempted bribery of two Government officials in connection with liia offer to purchase or lease Hermand Jetlfou, two' of tho smallest of lbs Channel Islands. • • - fflr R. Muir, for 'tho defence, said that defendant's.method of business was based on tho principle of a lavish' distribution of free samples. One year lie gavo away boxes of 1'25 oigars to tho ' valiio of X' 3796; another year cigars value ,£3933, and on one occasion cabinets of cigars worth nearly (£6OOO were sent out as samples. When the "tanks" wero in Trafalgar. Square,, ho marched his entiro staff of several hundreds to tho Square, and bought War Saving's Certificates for thorn all. 1 In addition ho presented the members of the Grenadier Guards Band, who headed tho procession, -with War Bonds. He treated the members of his staff ns if they wero his sisters and brothers, and paid them a full week's wages for fivo . days' work. There was no nttom.pt at bribery. What was dono-' was simply in "accordance with his ordinary business methods. Mr. H. Gordon Selfridgo said that defendant's reputation was beyond reliroacli. Hp mado n habit of distributing samples of his goods to (ho public on a very large scale. Mr. Ilumhpreys (for the prosecution)— How many cigars would he send to an unknown member of tho public?—"lt varies from a few shillingswortli to .£2." The hearing was adjourned,