“Honest Traveller's.”

Manawatu Herald, 12 January 1904, Page 3

“Honest Traveller's.”

the simple maorilander.

At Melbourne City Court recently James Russell was charged with having conspired with two other men to defraud James Peter Deyatier of £37 and two gold rings. The prosecutor in his feyidehce, said that he had been farming in New Zealand. He sold his farm, and in October last left Sydney in the steamer Karlsruhe for Germany. On the way to Melbourne he became acquainted with a fellow passenger, “■ a tall, fair man.” When they reached Melbourne thsy went to the Whits Hatfc Hotel, Where the "tall, fair man” introduced ft fl’iend as “ Mr Palmer,” They went into a private room and had drinks, and then accused entered the room and called for a drink. He introduced himself as a retired ostrich farmer from South Africa, who Was travelling for pleasure to see New Zealand and America, He also said his brother had left him the ostrich farm, and he had sold it for some hundreds of thousands of pounds. After some conversation, accused and “ Mr Palmer ” played a gams for £l. Accused lost 1 and handed “ Palmer ” a note supposed to be for £l, but it was a £5 note, and “ Palmer,” on perceiving the mistake returned it. Accused said he was pleased to meet honest travellers, and, producing what ap peared to he large bundles of notes, gave “ Palmer ” £l. He then said that his brother on his deathbed had told him that there wore two kinds of travellers one kind had p’enty of jewellery and no money in their pockets, but honest travellers could always show a little money, and if ever he met any of them he was to pive them a HP up if he could. He then asked them how much they had. The “fair man” said he had £125, “ Palmer ” said he had over £IOO, and prosecutor said he had £B7 Accused said : “ Show it to me and I will give you £IOO each.” The various sums were put on the table. Accused then said he would give them £IOO between them, but Palmer raised a dispute, because he had promised £IOO to each. To settle the matter it was decided to play a game for £380,-the money on the table b ing staked against accused’s £3OO, each of the three signing cheques to mako up the balance, although they had no bank ng accounts. Palmer and accused played a game with coins and pieces of paper, and accused won. He refused to return the valueless cheque, aying he would give them to his lawyer. Palmer said they would all be arrested for the cheques, and induced prosecutor to give him his jewellery to pawn. He gave him a railway ticket to Adelaide and 10s, and the “fair man” put prosecutor in the train and saw him off. On the way to Adelaide prosecutor formed the conclusion that he had been victimised. He returned to Melbourne, and reported the lac’s to the police A warrant was issued, and accused was arrested in Western Australia. Accused reserved hia defence, and was committed for trial.