A SWINDLER’S STORY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1108, 12 June 1913, Page 4

A SWINDLER’S STORY.

‘ TALE OF A SYNDICATE. Several days ago (says the Southland News) a visitor from the north took up his quarters in an Invercargill private hotel, and regaled his fellow-lodgers with a story relating to a financial venture in which he had a substantial interest. It was that he and nine others had formed a syndicate who had raised with which to purchase land in Western Australia, which they could procure from the Government for 15s an acre; - They were about to leave for the Commonwealth, and he was going ahead of the party to negotiate for the acquisition of the property, intending to leave by this' week's boat. However, despite the rosy tale, which seemed to show that money was no object to the members of the syndicate, the proprietor of the hotel reminded the visitor that though he had been staying in the house for several days he had not paid for his' board and lodging, which, according to practice, should have been paid in advance. He assured the landlord that he had plenty of money, and left to draw some out of the bank, so he said, but instead of doing this, he forged a cheque, succeeded in getting a business firm to cash it, and paid up. Less than 24 hours elapsed before’ Detective Carroll was informed that the visitor was not a valuable acquisition to the community, and searching for his whereabouts, found him sitting in front of a comfortable fire, describing what the financial results of the West Australian investment would be before many years had elapsed, A visit to the police station, and subsequently the gaol, followed a brief conversation with the man in authority, and it seems from report that it will be some time before the northerner will be able to resume his journey to the Golden West.