A Swindle.

Manawatu Herald, 21 April 1894, Page 3

A Swindle.

A respectable couple, living in the country, saw in a local paper an advertisement of a furnished hotel sold in Paris. It read so attractively that they came to Paris- to inspect the property. The hotel was situated in the Rue des Fosses Saint Jacques. The proprietors seemed to be doing a marvellous business. Every room in the hotel was occupied and the occupants seemed an exceptionally thirsty lot. They either paid frequent visits to the bar or had drinks continually sent to their rooms, and one lady, who occupied the first floor, even ordered champagne whilst the intending purchasers were inspecting the premises. The business seemed so thriving that the promicials concluded a bargain on the spot. They paid 20,000fr down, and gave bills at a short date for a similar amount. The next day they took possession of their new property. A remarkable change had occurred however, in the intervals. The numerous guests had all flitted, the cellar was only half filled and many of the bottles contained only water. The new purchasers recognised the fact that they had been swindled, and their suspicions were confirmed when they met a waiter who had been employed at the hotel, and who assured them that his former masters had carefully planned the trick with the assistance of some of their friends. A complaint was made to the police, and the swindlers, a man from Lunembourg, and a Prussian woman, have been arrested at Belleville.