AN IMPUDENT SWINDLER.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1076, 8 December 1882, Page 3

AN IMPUDENT SWINDLER.

The subject of the subjoined extract from the Christchurch Telegraph, i« the individual who hai b-en visiting the .Otago shows: —•, ,“A loud-voiced individual gathered a crowd round him by announcinu that he had made a waeer with two wellknown pub icans that he would sell a certain number of £1 notes for 18s. In order to w n his bet he proposed to give every purchaser a present to hoot. The bait took immediately, and he qnickly disposed of a number of genuine notes at the price stated. When he received 18s he placed it, together with hj df-a-crown of his own money, in a hat held by a partner, thus leading the bystanders to believe that when his sale was effected he would return their money wi h2s 6 I added. When this had gone on for sometime ha produced a number, which he also sold for £1 each, and in this way quickly got ml ot thir y or forty of them. The purchasers soon discovered that they were almost worthless, and grumblings arose. The cheva’ier, finding be could sell no mo v e, proceeded' to re'deeifi his promise ili regard to the presents." Jfe diatrilmted; a large- number of which were eagerly snapped up.’ Tliey.yfere -found to contain—ping. The crowd Were intensely disgust*!, and they made every show oi their intention ot going for the smart auction 'er. But that gentleman produced a revolver, which he flourished ostentatiously, the crowd fell back, and he left the ground hippy in tho posses don <f a well lined purse, while his victims mourned in concert over thoir own gullibility.”