Rank Imposters.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 June 1922, Page 3

Rank Imposters.

AUCKLAND, June 26

Business people and the public of Auckland generally would* do yvell to accept a warning, and be prepared to meet a gang of querilous loafers and ne’er-do-wells, who have been doing the rounds of the city and suburbs masquerading as members of the crew of the wrecked steamer Wiltshire, and obtaining money, food, and clothing bv means of this false pretence.

During the past week Mr Edmond Twohill. tlie manager of the Sailors’ Home, where the Wiltshire men have been boarding, has been inundated with inquiries as to the reason why the men should have to seek outside relief. Of course, such lias not been the case, for all the men have been in receipt of ;tbeir wages, while they have not been called upon to pay their board, or even buy their own clothes. Ihe shinning company has seen to that. This morning Mr Twohill informed a “Star” reporter that the shipwrecked men have not had to want for anything. They were a happy crowd of moil, and had been well looked after i„ the Sailors’ Home, being in recemt of i.eod food and sleeping accommodation Their conduct had been exemplary- said the manager of the home, and the men of the Wiltshire would not stoon to such low prnctces, by soliciting money and clothing all round the town. . , The methods adopted hv these loafers have been many and varied. Cases were recited to the “Star” reporter where .sometimes one and t'vo men went, into a feaslmn or restaurant, and after enjoying a meal informed the proprietor‘that they were members ot the wrecked steamer, end that they (I'd 1,,,ve the necessary funds «'*’ which to nay the amount of their bill. In one instance, where two of these plausible men went into " Q’ ,con Struct tonroom tliov stattnl that t io> in,fortunately had no money and could no pav the voung lady, not only listened to. and accepted their overtures, lint gave each man a few shillings for

tobacco. . On Friday afternoon last, one of these obvious imposters succeeded in convincing a small crowd of waterside workers, who were on the wharves, that ho belonged to tlie crew of the Wiltshire, and that lie wanted to pro- ! , „ut of Auckland to join another | voss el The generous and unsuspect- ! i,,g men of the waterfront took the [ bat round, with the result that the 1 persuasive loafer walked away with several pounds in his pocket. There are also other eases whore men have adopted the same methods and have been presented with l<"ll\ large sums of money by sympathetic persons. One man approached the pi ol rielor of a boardinghouse stating that | Vi’s a member of the AVRtshirk’s ~,-ew and did not have sufficient lnonev to provide himself with a bed. Askell why the Sailors’ Home authorities did not supply his wants, he bad a rondv answer to the effect that the home was full up. When the matter was mentioned to a few members he crew of the Wiltshire they stated 111 , v v „re well eared for at the SailA’ Home, and all of theMiptmot, that tlie men "ho inasqueraded _ » i hose belonging to the vessel were simi|.lr in type to those parasites I mind m every- port who lived <»' th e seamen and firemen of visiting ships and obtained meals on board.