AN EASTER SWINDLE?

Hokitika Guardian, 1 April 1921, Page 4

AN EASTER SWINDLE?

Rod's parson arrested

AUCKLAND, March 28 What has every appearance of rn attempt to bring off another Easter j swindle, on the strength of the banks I ’being closed for several days, resulted ■ in the arrest last week- of a young m m i in clerical garb, who had put up at [ the Star Hotel, and! was travelling i under the name of the Rev. AY. F. Don, M.A. With handsome appearance j immaciilat ( , dressing and general maii- ! tiers, the young “cleric” ■ bad great.lv I impressed his fellow guests at tile hotel | within tile few hours of his residen i" there. He had arrived early on Tlmrday morning, and made it known 'hat lie was on leave from his charge m Christchurch, and was preparing ft r matrimony by obtaining his furnishing' in Auckland. This was supported by I his visits to drapery establishments I where arrangements wer,> made for rim purchase of household furnishings, :uu* expensive fur goods to the value of LI 10, with an intimation that he would settle by cheque when he called for the gooda. It is alleged that lie made similar airangements at a furniture establishliient, and that at another shop lie bought a camera, tendering n cheque for £9.. and getting the camera and £f> change. It. is alleged further 'ln lie obtained a quantity of clothing n return for a cheque from another drapery firm, and also entered into negotiations for the purchase of a motor ear before calling in a car at the place of his original big purchase to hand over a cheque and get the goods. He was there met with a request for a guarantee on acount of the banks being closed and was unable to fully satisfy the drapery firm of his horn fides with the result that the goods wer 0 not delivered.

The latter incident came to the eais of Detective-Sergeants Hammond and Ward, the latter an officer of Christchurch experience, and they paid a fill on ‘‘parson”, and the interview resulted in the officers being satisfied that they had got n wolf clothed in lamb’s skin, for they identified him with a person who was known to the police as Claude Osmond Barker. The supposed clajric was arrested on

charge of having issued a valueless cheque for £9, and under the -name of Barker was brought before Justices * f t\, Peace and remanded till Wednesday.

Subsequent inquiries have established that a young man believed to be the accused had rented a sample room in the city on Wednesday, and had several cases there in readiness for packing vi'b goods.