RAISING THE WIND.

NZ Truth, Issue 122, 19 October 1907, Page 4

RAISING THE WIND.

A MONEY-LENDER LET IN.

A Substitute for " Hubby."

Who was Unaware of What was

Going On ?"

This is the short story of bow a cunning Christchurch couple tried to take a money-lender down—and did so. F. D. Kesteven runs a money-chang-ing shanty m Chancery-lane, and is supposed to be as cute as they make 'em. It was a matter of twenty quid— twenty lovely quid— that he lost and ho yearned for it with a great yearn. So the perlice were p.ut on, the track, and they proceeded with -a great proceed and had a cut at Photographer Ireson and his lovely landlady, Mrs Hutchison, whose husband didn't know of his fine landlady's carryings oh. According to Kesteven, Mrs Hutchison came to his office on 13th July last and wanted a loan of twenty quid. As she had had previous dealings with him of a smaller nature, he remarked on the largeness of the amount, and said he would like her husband to give a bill-of-sale. "Oh, that will be all right," replied the lady, and it was arranged that the bill-of-sale should be sent along to the house to be signed. The male accused, Ireson, called at the office with a message from Mrs Hutchison complaining that the money hadn't been sent, and as witness was an hour or so late, and behind his promise, he said he *Tvould send the oof later on m the day. This was done. He thought Ireson was Mr Hutchison himself, and that he signed the bill of sale. It was only recently that he knew otherwise. He had lent Mrs Hutchison money twice previously— one an amount of £7 10s and another of £2 10. The witness. m- answer to Mv Donnelly, said that he wouldn't swear that the female accused was m his office on the 13th July, but he thought she was. - He didn't see her again until the money was paid over at her house. Ireson called twice, and asked witness

TO SEND THE MONEY DOWN, and he replied, "All right." He merely took him for a bally messenger. Anyhow, he never saw JbresoM afterwards. The hill-of-s&le was written out by witness's clerk, and under that bill he seized a piano, which was mentioned therein, and there was trouble m the Magistrate's Court, but this was some months afterwards.

In reply to Mr Hunt, Kesteven said Ireson must have said he came from Mrs Hutchison to hurry up the money or else he wouldn't have takein any notice of him.

Kcsteven's clerk, a youth, who drew up the p.n. and bill-of-sale, gave evidence, ireson strolled m and asked it the bill-of-sale was ready, and h« asked him if he was Hutchison, receiving a "reply m the affirmative. Just then Kesleven came m, and on being informed of what had happened he handed over a cheque for £i 7. Went along to witness the signatures at 77 Tuam-street, but the accused Ireson wasn't there with the bill-of-sale. Mrs Husband was, though, and she said her husband worked on the railway and was working lato. Then Ireson turned vp r and she said. "Hurry up, or you will be late for work." Mrs Hutchison signed the bill of sale 1 and the promissory note, and Ireson signed both afterwards. The cheque was then handed over. Iresoa signed as Daniel Hutchison. He didn't know Mi Hutchison, but THOUGHT IRESON WAS THE MAN. The purport of a conversation he had with Ireson was told by photographer F. B. Hughes. It was a!) out the good old game of money-lendin.e. Ireson desired to" know if oae's effects could be seized if he Borrowed money without security. Hufches didn't know a darn about the business and told him so. Ireson sai* he had lent money, and wanted to know his position. Later on he tolS witness that he had fixed the matter up, and that he had got a cheque and managed to get a Jew to cash it. Mr Donnelly : What did you say then ?— Well, I saui it was* pretty rough oft the Jew. Objection was taken by counsel ta calling Daniel Hutchison, husband of the female accused, but the Magistrate admitted the evidence. Hutchison said he worked on the railway and also kept a boarding-house ia Tuam-street. The accused Ireson lived there, and had a bicycle, which was enumerated m the bill-of-sale. Witness didn't possess one himself The signature "Daniel Hutchison" on the bill-of-sale Wasn't his. He hadn't the faintest idea that his missus had been borrowing cash from money-lenders. POOR INNOCENT SOUL ! And him grafting hard all day too Bailiff Boardman told a talp of war. He went along to seize the goods mentioned m the bill-of-sale and there was a scuffle between himself and Mts Hutchison. He had to actually send for three men such a tartar was she. There was trouble for an hour m that house, and then the war subsided. Mrs Hutchison wouldn't definitely say whether the signatures were hers or not About the time that Kesteven lost Ins oof, Ihe accused Ireson lodged fourteen quid to his credit at the Bank or New Zealand and a elf vk m that institution fold the Oou-t .so There was sorno other evidence lmrtered, and the Re:nc!i said that ' a pmna facie case had been made out and sent tbe pair lor -trial.