AN ENGAGING STRANGER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2351, 5 November 1921, Page 2

AN ENGAGING STRANGER.

STORY OF CASHED CHEQUE.

A stranger came to Christchurch a week or two ago, and installed himself at a leading hotel, states the Sun. His appearance was stylish, and his manner gentlemanly. He was not long in getting into the good graces of local residents, and was taken by a fellow-boarder to play golf at Shirley, and in various ways assisted to pass the time agreeably. His landlord, impressed by the representations that the stranger had been made an honorary member of the leading local clubs, readily cashed a cheque purporting Jo be drawn on an account in the Auckland branch of the bank. Another boarder at the hotel had occasion to go out of town for a few days, and on return found that his clothes had been worn and his personal eft eels made use of in a. decidedly familiar manner during his absence. Worse than that, a valuable diamond scarf pin was missing. The landlord, on being interrogated, could throw no light on these happenings, and when the victim observed that the stranger might know something about the business, the suggestion was received with incredulity. However, as a, precaution the landlord wired to Auckland about the cheque, and received the disconcerting news that the person who had drawn it had no account to operate upon. “ This followed bv a visit to the police station. A search, warrant-was taken out and acted upon, while the stranger was playing golf, and the jewellery was recovered. The subsequent proceedings will engage the attention of the judicial authorities.