EVADING PAYMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 20 March 1931, Page 6

EVADING PAYMENT

CUNNING CUSTOMER. PEPPER-POT USED. (Dominion/. With plausible ways, an exhaustive knowledge ol the turf, and a loudness ior writing, a certain customer at a restaurant in the city on Sunday and .Monday will not be forgotten by the proprietor for some time to come. ‘I could pick him out of a thousand,” said the proprietor last, evening. “and it I can find him there’ll be something doing.” He saw the customer for the first time on Sunday at 11.-45 p.m., when a man walked into the shop ami took a seat at a table near a partition dividing the tea-room from the shop it-sci.. The man was supplied with refreshments, and began Lo write at the table. He explained to the proprietor that he was waiting for a man whom lie was to meet at the shop at 11.-V) p.m. Suspicion Aroused. Time dragged on. aud eventually another customer, ‘‘rather eccentric, took a seat at the same table. The newcomer*said to the ether. "lon re "a reporter, I suppose,” “Oh yes.” he replied. “I’m on one of the papers.” The proprietor a knitted last evening that even at the time he was a little suspicious. >

The first man stayed on until 12.-15 a.m., and when it came to settling up lie was afraid that “a half-crown had gone astray.” The proprietor let him go after receiving an assurance that lie would return next day and pay ior what lie had had. The man did not return until 1 ]••)•> p.m. on Monday, when he sat at the same table and gave the same order. The proprietor took it for granted that the man now had the money to pay for what he was having as well as what he owed. He talked exhaustively to the proprietor on turf topics, quoting weights and results with ease and fluency, and giving the proprietor a tip which happened to come off yesterday.

He dallied on as on the previous occasion, and came out into the shop at 2.15 a.m.. saying that “the hoys had a hit of a party on and wanted some sweets.” He was supplied with a hag of caramels, and then asked tlie proprietor—“so that the boys would know how he spent the money”—to make out a docket.

Just in Time

The proprietor leant down on the counter and was writing the tally when he noticed the man’s right, arm come up like lightning, and the glint of light on an aluminium pepper pot. The proprietor turned his head .just in time, and got the pepper on the side of his face, hut he was in a good position to aim a blow at the customer. which connected and knocked the man’s hat off. He could not get past the counter quickly enough to prevent the man turning down a corner, and he had t° let the man get away. Five minutes later he made a statement to the police. His hope now is that lie will find the man before the police get in touch with him. “I H hand over what’s left,” he said.