The Sewing Machine Swindle

Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1667, 25 March 1886, Page 2

The Sewing Machine Swindle

At the Police Court. Otaki,pn the 19th instant, before W. H. Sinicbxj Esq, J.P. . James Henry Lawrence appeared m the c'ustb'dy of Gbnstable Carr, wlio^ch'arf kd him with swindling. Prisoner had ihv sefted the following advertisement m theLyftelton Tinies:.-^ -'lf -.v» I- ■■ i? \ "•• To mothers and daughter!. - A-sewr-: 1 - ing machine for 2s 6d only/ j Having come to an arrangement with. an American finaV.;:we§ are enabled io sell their first-crass sewing machine! at th^above price; and having sent^onisigjiriient to Christchurch, weJgua>aiDtee £to<-fbrward -'■appn/viedelpjrr'bf^.^ioSj-, m Stamps^tb any address; carmj^jgaid, } «< HBtiely-polished, well made H ahd complete, sewing machine. Half "dfrzen npare makihine.neotiles 6d extra. \ Suje afi|?nt* fbr =NeV Z^alanM— Lawrence^ AsQdj Ofeatti, Wellington." ..,.,, • The* Christchurch police doubting the bona fides of the above requested In,-,, spector James, .of; Ty*anganui, to have enquiries Mnade; : The. local constable did not know the firm, but knew a_raan .'named Lawrence, who war 'driving ! a ! dray Wthe railway line; ■■■'■• Being*,intetviewed, Lawrence admitted he ; was the man, Wrirl on liis tent -being searched letters and any amount of stamps were discovered. Lawrence said it, was jqst a technical, point as to whether, a needle was not a sewing machine. 'Mr Shncox, however to give him an bpportutiity' b^ thinking it over, ; Sentenced hinv to .one months' imprisonment with hard labor m Wangahni Ciaol, under, sep. 28 jof ?' The. Police Offences Act," sub sec 4.'