One of America's leading human rights organisations which hired disgraced conference promoter Bonnie Marshall to fundraise claims she creamed off thousands of dollars for her own benefit.

And a former past president of a branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP) has issued a stark warning to other organisations not to get involved with Ms Marshall's company.

NAACP Kansas City branch Immediate Past President Herman Johnson explained how Ms Marshall contacted the charity a year ago promising to raise thousands of dollars.

But after raising $11,000 in the space of a month she then pocketed $2,200 for herself, spent another $1,750 on a private party for her friends and placed $4,000 worth of advertising in the charity's magazine without paying.

"She said that she was going to raise thousands for us,'' Mr. Johnson said.

"In the end she spoke to just three companies and raised about $11,000 -- but we only got about $3,000 of that -- the rest she took as commission and expenses.'' Introducing herself as the adopted daughter of famous singer Nancy Wilson, Ms Marshall claimed she was in Kansas City because her daughter was studying medicine at the local college.

"We checked into both of those claims and there was nothing to back them up,'' Mr. Johnson said.

"You could say that we parted on acrimonious terms. The companies she approached thought she was working for us as a volunteer -- had they known she was taking a commission I don't know what they would have done.'' "But when I found out about it she went mad and had a tantrum. There's nothing we can do about it now because she was given the authority to raise money by the president. But my advice to anyone would be not to touch her with a ten foot pole.'' Yesterday The Royal Gazette revealed how Ms Marshall was branded a liar and professional litigant by a Missouri State judge after her attempt to sue a former landlord for racial discrimination was thrown out of court.

Ms Marshall, who has threatened to sue the Department of Tourism over a sponsorship deal for the World Conference of Mayors annual convention -- which wraps up tomorrow -- could now face perjury charges when she returns to the US.

Yesterday WCOM director general Johnny Ford attempted to distance himself from Ms Marshall and her promotions company, the African American Global Trade and Tourism Council.

And he also took the opportunity to apologise for a number of embarrassing incidents that have plagued the trouble-hit conference.

Referring to an incident on Monday in which acting Tourism Minister Terry Lister was kept waiting by delegates -- and then told that his presence was not required after all -- Mr. Ford said: "I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely apologise, as director general of the World Conference of Mayors, first off to the Minister, Terry Lister for having to wait.

"We didn't realise he was here and our lunch carried on an unreasonably long time -- had we known he could have addressed the luncheon. I am going to contact him today and also get a letter off to him.

"With respect to Ms Marshall it must be made clear that her legal affairs are her challenges, not the challenges of the World Conference of Mayors -- she does not speak for us.'' Last night Bonnie Marshall refused to comment on the scandal. A receptionist at the Elbow Beach Hotel where she and conference delegates are staying confirmed that she was in her room but was not receiving visitors.

And when a reporter did finally get through to Ms Marshall she would only say: "I have nothing to say to you.'' The conference delegate who verbally abused a Royal Gazette reporter has been identified as Dennis Rahiim Watson, leader of the New York-based National Black Youth Leadership Council.

See related story, Page 3 Allegations dog promoter On Tuesday Mr. Watson approached the reporter at a seminar and, after asking him to step outside, issued a torrent of abuse for writing negative reports on Ms Marshall.

"I think you're a p**s poor reporter -- why don't you f**k off back to England?'' he said.

When asked by the reporter to give his name Mr. Watson said: "I've never spoken to you before. There are a lot of black people here -- you must be mistaken.

Yesterday Bermuda-born Mr. Watson, who was `kicked out' of Churchill (Robert Crawford school) 37 times, denied he had ever spoken to the reporter.

"I don't know you and you don't know me,'' he said.

"I don't want to talk to you. I have nothing to say. I'm just here visiting for the conference.'' But WCOM director general Johnny Ford did later apologise to the reporter for the outburst.