ALLEGED FALSE PRETENCES.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 December 1920, Page 5

ALLEGED FALSE PRETENCES.

CHARGES AGAINST COMMISSION

AGENT

ACCUSED ADMITS GUILT,

By Telegraph.—Press Associalloa

Auckland, Last Night. Charged with obtaining money for shares for wJiieh he failed to give account, and also with obtaining money under false pretences, Walter Henry McConnellj commission agent, appeared in the police court to-day before Mr. Cutten, S.M.

The money was secured by accused, it was alleged, on the representation that he was the authorised representative of the New Zealand Rubber Products Co., of Wellington. James Wilson, town clerk at Devonport, told how he bought shares in the New Zealand Rubber Products Co. on accused's representations. W. R. Durban. W. S. Stone, Henry Gregory, H. B. Bull, and David Tee'd told how they had bought shares from accused under the belief that he was the ajjent of the New Zealand Rubber Products Co.

One witness described accused as having samples of rubber floor goods with him, and having said he had seen the rubber company in Wellington in full operation. A. J. McLennan, acting secretary of the New Zealand Rubber" Products' Co., of Wellington, said that in July, 1919. accused was, employed by the company to sell shares and receive application money. The Auckland district was allotted to him, and he turned in numerous applications far shares. In consequence of complaints from shareholders, and irregularities in the money received, lie was dismissed in September as the company's agent. Jn May they received an application for shares, hut no money was enclosed in the application. It was <=aid that accused had received the application 1 allotment moner, but the company had never got the amounts. Witness gave particulars of other sums for which accused had never accounted. At the period of several of ' the transactions accused was not in the employ of the company nt all. The total amount involved in these tvanr-ac-tions from .Tune, 101S, to September, 1020. was £025 IS?. After further evidence accused, who pleaded guilty, was committed io the Supreme Court for sentence.