AN EXTRAORDINARY CASE OF FRAUD.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1871, 19 June 1888, Page 3

AN EXTRAORDINARY CASE OF FRAUD.

» An extraordinary ohargo of fraud was investigated at Putea tbo other day. From the Btatemaut of the proaeoutrix It appeared that tho accused Stoela had Impersonated a cousin of of thj same name wjiom alia had never 'seen. Thfa GOUBIn, (it appears, landed m Auckland four or Qve yearß ago, and for eomo time afterwards had corresponded with hia relative and had exchanged photographs. Shortly afterwards the correspondence appeira to have ceased. A short time ago according to the alafcenunt of the proseoatrix, Bhe wrote to Auckland with a view to reviving the correspondence, but the letter "fell In^i' the hands of the prisoner whose i\Bsarnod or real name was ala.o Steel. Qo replied to the pomniqni cation stating th.at he had met) wich an aooldent whiph ha 3 Intorroptod the cor. reapondenoo, and m the samo letter requested the loan of a sum of money until he had an opportunity of drawing upon a bank which he pretended held some £700 belonging to him. The money was duly sent, and fresh demands from the same quarter wero afterwards forthcoming. A few week? ago the accused visited Patea, and called upon his pretended couain, who then discovered the fraud that had been practised u,psn her. There was nothing m cuuiinon between the photograph tout to hut of her real cousin and the man who stood before her. Threatening to expose him, he promised Vn refund the money, but before he had an opportunity of doing «o, he sreQeived, s aontonoe of fourteen da,va fo,r drunkenness, and üb|us b^d language^ On his release the prieoner" cleared out, bat tho law having been not m motion, he was r,earrested m Waluganul a few d'ayq a^o/and he now awajts trial before, the Sonceme CoQtt,V,' Wioganal HeroW."