AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2111, 10 February 1870, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

During the investigation of a charge of forging a bill of exchange for L 25 in the City Court, Melbourne, recently, some evidence was given showing the enormous profits made by bill discounters. The facts of the case were that the prisoner, whose name is George Slater, was engaged to he married to a lady in Carlton, but wanting money for the honeymoon, he went to a bill discounter named Benjamin Marks with a bill for L 25 at one month’s date, purporting to be accepted by one Reginald Glanvill. He told Marks that the acceptor was landlord of the Hit or Miss Hotel, Emerald Hill. Before the bill was cashed, the discounter required two days to make inquiries, but at the expiration of that time he agreed to give the prisoner 1/20 for the bill, charging him the modest interest of L3OO per cent, per annum. When the hill fell due, it was returned marked no account, and a warrant was according issued for his arrest. Upon the bill being closely examined, it was found that it was not drawn on Reginald Glanvill. The prisoner was committed for trial—his wife, to whom ho had been only married a week, returning to her friends. The Melbourne Argus of January 26 says : —From “information received” the Customs authorities have lately examined a consignment of drapery, ex Loch Katrine, from Glasgow. The consignment was a large one, and only 12 cases have as yet been opened, but they have all been found to be filled with very little drapery and a great deal of sawdust, and it is feared that the whole shipment will be found to be of the same composite character. The “ canny ” Scotch house which exported the goods has drawn against them to their full legitimate value ; so either the Bank or the consignees will be heavy losers.