THE MASSEY FRAUDS.

Kumara Times, Issue 2005, 1 February 1883, Page 2

THE MASSEY FRAUDS.

The Dunedin correspondent of the Inangahua Herald gives a brief outline of the frauds committed by Mr Massey (late Town Clerk of Dunedin) and Mrs Massey (his wife), and how their detection came about. The charges are being heard in the City Police Court, Dunedin, but at present are adjourned pending the arrival of witnesses from Melbourne:—" When, in 1874 authority was given by Parliament, a loan of £200,000 was raised by the Dunedin City Corporation for waterworks purposes, and the debentures were made payable in London and Melbourne. At the request of the shareholders a number of these were afterwards exchanged for debentures payable in Dunedin, some 775 of the new forms being printed, and signed by the Mayor and a Councillor. These were handed over to the clerk, and a large number took advantage of the new regulation, and had them changed, the new debentures of course bearing the same numbers as the originals. Some, however, did not, and as far as I can make out Massey, who was then Town Clerk, took possession of these and sold them in Melbourne as originals, under the name of the real shareholders of the same numbers over here. The whole affair is a very clever fraud, as the interest being payable in different colonies, the coupons with the same number did not clash, and had Massey cleared out when all this was completed, he might now, if the allegations are true, be enjoying the result of his gains in the States or some other happy place where extradition treaties are not in force. He has, however, remained, and been arrested, but whether from infatuation, or an idea that the law cannot touch him, I cannot say. At any rate, in my humble opiniou, the prosecution will have a very difficult job, as to all appearances the debentures are not (as stated in the information) valuable security, but no more than waste paper. However, we live and wait."