THE “LEGACY TRICK” IN AUCKLAND.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1140, 7 March 1884, Page 3

THE “LEG ACY TRICK” IN AUCKLAND.

A most bare-taced imposition has been played on two of the local publicans during the past month by a party of the name of Thomas. The victims occupy the licensed houses situate at either extremity of Duke street, and the modus opeiandi by which they have been victimised -is the old, and we have thought played out, 1-gacy trick. Some weeks since Mr Thomas, who is known to lie well connected in England, and who formerly held a commission in the British army, arrived m town from the Waotti with a good sum to his credit, the proceeds of his labours with a survey party He puts up at the Criterion, and just when funds are getting low and the fickle godde-s Fortune aopeired to be totally unconscmi» of the existence of the ex-captain, the jade suddenly chopped round, and according to his own statement, confided to Host Hewitt, he received by the mail a letter from his brother in England, advising him of the death of an old aunt and having left a will beq athing him property, the annual rent roll of which, he said, ran into four figures. Now, it was natural that a man of his character should desire to handle his newlyacquired wealth at as early a date as possible, and he could make a start by getting out a draft for a “ thou,” if he only had the name wherewith to advise the solicitors who held charge of the estate. Writing would he such slow work, as the publican into whose ears he poured the tale well knew, and if he could only obtain a loan sufficient to cover the cost of telegraphing, a week or two would suffice to see him in a position to recoup the lender, and sail by the next-’Frisco steamer. The bait took, the angler having guaranteed the bonafides of his statement y producing the envelope which covered the letter bearing the good news, and a sufficient sum of money was advanced to cover the cost of a cable message,in which the sender requested that a thousand might be cabled out to him. The message sent. No. 1 publican being able to vouch f >r'this, the artist ex tended his operations to N . 2, from whom he obtained sundry advances wherewith to carry on till his thousand arrive 1. A tailor was a'so visited, and the heir rigged out from top to toe. Days flew by. but nothing turned up, and most strange to tell, no ansae" came to the cablegram. Meantime ho had extended his munificence to a fellow-woiker in the suivey operations, and had ofered him the position of steward o i his estate, which was eagerly accepted. Time flew on, and cash becoming low Mr Thomas apparently deemed the “claims” which had been “ working” so succ ssfaHy, as plaved out, and decided upon making himself scarce. To keep up the hoax till the last moment, and doubtless with a view to gain a fair start, ha announced the receipt of a telerain, and his departure for Auckland, ao oompanied by his new ’deward, as to take place on Monday last, he also informed his creditors that Mr Campbell, of Whittaker and Campbell, would accompany him to Auckland in order to arrange matters financial. Monday came, and saw Thomas and the s'eward aboard a buggy, but to his horror Host Hewi t saw nothing of Mr Campbell. Rushing tip to the room in the hotel occupied by that gentleman, ho was told that "e ha' no knowledge of the affair heyoad the fact that as Thomas could produce no credentials, he had deo’ined to act in any capacity on his behalf. To gee down stairs and on to the footpath was the work of a moment, and he arrived just,before they took their departure. Asked where the telegram which he declared he had received, was, Mr Thomas declared that he had los it Host Hewitt was incredulous, and asked him to substantiate bis statement by visiting the telegraph office in his oompanv. This he agreed to, but the telegraph officials, in re dv to hi* queries, did not remember his having received any telegram. He was then asked to produce the letter, at first he expostulated that it was private, hut finally produced the precious document, which proved to he, as he had said, from the executors of his deceased aunt’s estate, but detailing that the whole of the property had been willed to his brother in consequence of cert ain peccadilloes of which the captain had been guilty, not meeting hj r approval—simply this and nothing more. Whether the matter will be allowed to drop we cannot say, hut both victims of this palpable imposition are naturally very hitter on the subject. That we are warranted in putting the matter down as such, is borne testimony to by the fact that Thomas endeavoured to gain possession of a suit of clothes which he ordered from one of the local tailors, and so far succeeded as to have got half way down the street with the bundle under his arm, when the tradesman was given afriendly hint as to the state of affairs, gave chase, and by a trade pretext obtained re-possession of the 'article*.