The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1884-03-04 00:00:00

THE ADVERTISING FRAUD.

Another advertising fraud has taken place, and
many tradminen and others in Weymouth have been
gulled In • similar manner t the charge which warn
preferred against a man named G iddon at the last
Quarter 8011111i0OL The modals operoadi is as follows :
A well-dressed man walks into a tradesmen's chop and
informs him that be is publishing a frUldo or directory
for the neighbourhood, ;and solicits an order for an
adveriiroment and copies of the public 'Mom which be
alleges he is publishing in some far.off town, and pro-
duoes • specimen of the books. Having received
payment for an advertisement, be promisee • copy of
the book in • few months, but it is almost needless to
say such • book is never Deep. Several of these
gentlemen have lately visited Weymouth with the
result stated above. The matter was placed in the
hands of the able superintendent of pdloe, Mr.
Vkkery, with the result that one is now in custody.
Charlie Lambourne, • respectably dressed man, was
charged In custody at the Guildhall on Monday, before
the Mayor (R. N. Howard, Esq.), Alderman Robert-
son,J. E. Roberts, Eel., B. Hopkins, Rog , and W.
Talbot, Esq., with obt doing from W. C. T.
Homan a sum of money with intent to defraud, also
with obtaining lie. 6d. from Henry Vitt* and rn.
from °barks Reidy, with Intent to defraud.
Mr. Howard Bowe* prosecuted, and Mr. S. Percy
Street defended._
. .

Howard Bow, in opening the proceeding.,
said he proposed to carry the evidence in Mr. Pittia's
and Mr. Sealy's cases as far as he niuld, and then ask
for • remand in order to complete other cases against
prisoner, which were of • somewhat extensive
charactir. In July last the prisoner came to Wey-
mouth and called upon various tradesmen, amongst
others, Mr. RABB, Mr. Hommel!, and Mr. S-aly. He
went to Mr. Pith, and represented himself as a
publisher living in 1, Alma-street., Plymouth, and
was bringing out • county directory, and asked him to
take copies and have his name inserted as
an advertisement. On the faith of them representa-
tion. Mr. Mb gave him an order and paid him
17a. fit, aid prisoner gave him • receipt purparting to
be from Charles Lambourne, directory publisher,
, Plymouth. Prisoner then went to Mr. Hommel', and
upon similar repressatiatiolui obtained 5.. With
regard to Mr. Pittis, he promised him the work by
Christmas last, and Mr. Houneell he promised in
September, Mr. Sealy he also promised in September.
Nothing morn wa, board of prisoner, and In January
Mr. Hommel' wrote to him, and Mr. l'ittis made
enquiries, ant in consequence of this prisoner was
apprehended at Bournemouth. When searched a
number of letters, from which it appeared he was
living In • state of abject poverty, were found upon
him. That was • somewhat extraordinary thing for •
directory publisher, who was supposed to S. pravided
with sufficient capital to bring out. din ctory, which
he (Mr. Bowen) reminded them was an expensive
undertaking, It was also serxrtained he had left
an overcoat at Newton Abbott, and his wile
had pawned her earrimra at Plymouth, which did not
look as if he was &publisher at Plymouth. The follow.
evidemos was than takes :
Henry PAU stated be was the landlord of the
Queen's Hotel is this t .wn. tie remembered seeing
prisoner on the 3rd of July at the Queen's Hotel. He
sal nue was the proprietor of • new C unty Directory
which be was publishing at Plymouth, a: 1, Alma-
street, and asked him if be would have a balf-pege
advertisement in the book. Witness, believing him to
be the publiaher, and he stating that it would be a
book Ilk* the one produced, and that his other state-
ments were true, gave him an order for an advertim-
meet, and parted with his money—seventeen 'halloo
and sixpence. Prisoner gave him a receipt, which he
produced, marked " B.^ Prisoner made it out in his
presence. Witham we. La have the book at the mad
of the year 1633. He had not had that work. He had
not sees any work published similar tot he one pro-
duced. He made enquiries about the work, but could
not find that such had bees published. ,

Mr. Street applied for a remted until nest Iloaday,
In "rditr to get witaasees in prisoner's behalf.
The remand was granted.