ILLEGAL ART UNION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2277, 24 August 1908, Page 1

ILLEGAL ART UNION.

“A MOST DISTINCT FRAUD.”

young man sentenced

A case of considerable interest was hoard at the Police Court on Saturday morning, I'oforo Mr. W. A. Burton S.M., when a young man named Joseph Dante was charged that no dkl, between August Ith and IStli inst., canvass for. subscribers and soil or dispose of tickets purporting to be for an art union, to bo held on August 18th, at the Gisborno (snooting Call cry, without authority. Sorgt. Hutton conducted tho prosecution, and the accused was not represented by counsel. Ho pleaded not guilty. Martin Kitnbol, proprietor of tho shooting gallery, Gladstone Road, said that ho had known tho accused for from seven to nine weeks, and 1 e (accused) was in tho habit of visiting tho shooting gallory. Accused <ioked for a job soveral times, and witness gave him work carting soil. Later on ho told accused that if he wanted to make a few shillings ho could take somo pictures that witness had, and try and soil them. Accused then did this, but did not offect a sale, and suggested to witness that lie should disposo of tho pictures by means oi an art union. Witness agreed to this on the understanding that accused would take all rosponsioir.ty. Ho also gave accused to understand that lie (witness) would have not lung whatever to do with it. A few later, witness went to Buslmoll’s, and from what he heard there, he spoko to defendant and asked Imi if he had permission to carry on tho art union. Accused said that lie lad no permission, but lie had written to tho Colonial Secretary for a lice., e. Witness advised him not to piocoeu any further without a license, and accused said that he had sold some ot the tickets, and gave witness 30s an 1 twelve hooks of tickets. Witness asked him if these wore all the boat's and defendant said “Yes.” Subsequently tlie police showed him four more books. Witness had since taken stops to obtain permission to carry on the lottery and had rcce: •ed a reply from the Colonial SecroMuy asking for more information. To tho Bench: When an art un\m was first suggested, lie (lid not know that the permission of the Colon.al Secretary was necessary. He first learned that it was so when he visited Buslmell’s.

To Accused: Ho wrote for tlio nrmit in liis own name, and he also had given books to two other p ivuss. Nothing was said to him about getting books printed, and ho did not remember having said he was going to start, an art union himself. He did not- say there was a lino of .100 for selling tickets without a iiceisc. Percival W. Bushnell, printer, said that accused came into his shop < n August 4th and said lie wanted :i- loots printed for ail art union . 1 oil paintings. He said the pictures were in Kimbd’s shooting gallery, and that the drawing would take place there. Witness asked if the permission of the Colonial Secretary had been obtained, and accused replied that it would be in a few days. V» itness pointed out the heavy penalty "ltd accused said lie would hold the injects back until he got permission Accused said ho had purchased the pictures from Kimbel. Four hundred tickets were printed for accused, who took them away on August 4tn, and said that Mr. Kimbel would pay for them.

Annie Treves said that accused came to her house and handed her an art union ticket and asked her to buy one. 'Hc 'as'ked if 'witness knew Mrs. Harris, and said she was a Gisborne lady whose husband had died, leaving her with fivo little children, ami every shilling collected would go to her. Witness then purchased a ticket (produced). Sorgt. Hutton said that accused was arrested oil the 17th inst. for another offence, and ho found in liis pocket the book (produced), and three similar books at liis lodgings. Block No. 314 contained the name of Mrs. Treves, and the initials on it. sold, J. D. Accused admitted tho sale of this and other tickets. To the Bench: Three and a half books of tickets had been sold. This concluded the case for the prosecution.

His Worship said that he had no doubt accused was guilty of the offence with which he was charged, and it was quite clear from the evidence that he well knew he was committing a breach of the law, as Mr. Bushnell had pointed out the penalty to him. Worse than all, the accused had deceived another witness into the belief that the tickets were being sold for the benefit of a widow and children. The words ‘‘By permission of the Colonial Secretary.” had been printed on the tickets, and such permission had not been obtained. It was a most distinct fraud. After stating that the maximum penalty was £2OO, His Worship inflicted a penalty of £lO with 2s costs, in default of immediate payment, two months’ imprisonment with, hard labor in the Napier Gaol.