A HEARTLESS SWINDLER.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1427, 11 September 1878, Page 3

A HEARTLESS SWINDLER.

[From the Melbourne "Leader."] Notwithstanding much said to the contrary, woman's firm belief in the constancy of the sterner sex, in spite of all their faults, does not appear to be much on the decline, if an instance that came under the notice of the City Police Court officials lately is anything like a representative case. Not long since, a man named Blake made the acquaintance of a young woman, who, by perseverance and industry in the calling she had engaged in, that of milliner and dressmaker, had succeeded in saving the respectable sum of between £sooand£6oo. Blake paid his addresses to her, and she consented to become his wife. A matrimonial alliance Blake had no intention of contracting, if he could possibly avoid it, his sole object being to obtain the money which his trusting fiancee possessed. By some means or other he induced her to give him the cash to invest on their joint behalf, and shortly after his point was gained he disappeared. The dressmaker at length came to the conclusion that she had been heartleesly duped, and communicated with the detectives. The authorities were quickly on the scent, and they captured Blake just as he was about to go up country by an early morning train. On being removed to the watchhouse the money was found upon him, but the victim of his imposition almost immediately bailed him out, and when he appeared before the magistrate there was no prosecution, and he was discharged. It might have been imagined that the young woman, having obtained repossession of her money, could not bring herself to punish her whilom lover, but was content to let him go and never have any further dealings with him. He was not so easily to be got rid of, however, and it now appears he managed to persuade her that she had utterly mistaken his character, and ultimately induced her to marry him. The ceremony performed, he very quickly once more laid hands upon the money and again levanted. The deserted wife on Saturday obtained a warrant for the arrest of her mercenary spouse : but there appears to be little doubt that he has succeeded in quitting the colony. If he has not dono so, and is captured, he will doubtless receive the punishment he so richly clpsprves.