Sold “Dud” Tickets For Big Art Union

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1021, 11 July 1930, Page 1

Sold “Dud” Tickets For Big Art Union

KEPT ALL PROCEEDS ONE MONTH FOR PLUMBER After a trip to Brisbane, William Thomas Watson decided to become the New Zealand agent for the Golden Casket Art Union of Queensland. Unfortunately, he omitted to mention the fact to the Brisbane controllers, and kept the proceeds himself. At the Police Court this morning Watson, a plumber, aged 41, appeared on eight charges of obtaining money by falsely representing tickets as being issued by tho Golden Casket Art Union, Brisbane. A further charge of commencing a lottery was withdrawn, Chief-Detective Hammond pointing out that as Watson admitted the former charges, the latter automatically lapsed. Mr. Buisson appeared for Watson. “This man had these tickets printed here, and posed as the authorised agent of tho Golden Casket Art Union,” said Mr. Hammond.

Detective - Sergeant Doyle said the Queensland art union was run in aid of various' hospitals in the State. Watson had been in Brisbane about 12 months ago, and familiarised himself with the running of the lottery. On returning to New Zealand he had had tickets printed to lead people to believe he was the authorised agent. KEPT PROCEEDS

“These lotteries are carried out every ten days in Brisbane,” said Mr. Doyle. “Watson was conversant with the dates, and people had every reason to believe that the tickets were genuine. All the time, he was taking the proceeds himself.” Witness had known Watson for 20 years. He was a good tradesman, and had a wife and seven children, to keep. .The excuse he had put forward for his action was that of poverty, and he had stated that he had only made about £7 out of it. "There are hundreds of these tickets now in circulation,” said DetectiveSergeant Doyle, "and he must have made more, though perhaps there are others in with him.” Watson had been arrested at Opotiki, and had not sold any tickets since inquiries were first instituted. His employer was prepared to take him back. His family was in dire straits financially. The unfortunate, part was that the tickets were bought in most cases by people who could ill afford to waste money, and thought they had a genuine chance to win something. Mr. Buisson, for Watson. *said that his client had been in work for only a few weeks during- the past nine months. His eldest child was 15, and the youngest was four. He had also been put out of his house and some of his furniture had to be sold. In addition a petition In bankruptcy was pending, and Watson had nothing in the world. Mr. Buisson asked for probation for the sake of Watson's family. “He’s not much good to his family,” said Mr. P. K. Hunt, S.M. “He has been guilty of a deliberate swindle.”

Watson was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment. Chief-Detective Hammond pointed out that the swindle had been discovered when a man who bought a book of tickets had sent the stubs over to Brisbane.