A SMOOTH-TONGUED SCOUNDREL

NZ Truth, Issue 127, 23 November 1907, Page 5

A SMOOTH-TONGUED SCOUNDREL

MR MALCOLM ON THE MAKE.

A Ne'er-do-well's Career m Christchurch.

Rapacious Raphael Rakes m Rhino.

It is one of the piquant mysteries of "life how. the smartest business men m the community — men capable of beating you every day m a dealare taken down by smooth-tongued adventurers with refreshing regularity. Why it is- so -is a matter for sp.eculatiou, but the fact remains. The wisest individuals are often the easiest gulled, and they shell out the corn of Egypt on the slightest provocation. Were a local chap to ask for coin he would probably be told to ?o 1o purgatory. A number of C-hristchuiTh people have been beaten badly by one 'James Malcolm, Junr., a stylish, up-to-date chap, who arrived m. the city with his wife and three children about eleven months ago', and started to make things hum. He is the son of James Malcolm., linen manufacturer, of Lurgan;- County Armagh, Ireland —one. of the fin-est linen factories m the- wide world. Young Malcolm had- a few hundred, shares m the business, which is carried on as a limited liability company, but he got up to some queer capers at Lurgan ; he lived like. a. millionaire, and. did things that he should be ashamed of. His father paid his debts for Mm a few times; and .then, told him to clear out ; so he left Ms country for his country's- good. The old man decided upon Maoriland ■ as the dumping ground for his erring son, a ssyrs r sem that is all too prevalent m the Old World. We don't want their wastrels, or their criminals. Why should folk dump their refuse on to us— send them out here and take i own their friends m the most ilackguardly manner. For this is tfhat Malcolm, Junr., did, and the )ld man knows it by this time. But iet us get back a bit. He was sue- • .-essful before leaving the Old World iv getting letters of introduction to Governor Phmket, Sir Robert Stout, and other nabobs high up m the social world. ' Lord Ranfurly, foi'merIv Governor of this Dominion; , GAVE. HTM A FEW REFERENCES, and- another who did so was the Duke of Manchester. But on the arrival of the steamer at Wellington, wher^ Malcolm was to mix 'with the I "bong tons, and ' swig cham, and smoke ' the best c-igs, a surprise.] awaited him. Lord Plunket's private secretary boarded the vessel, and, on locating his quarry, he didn't extend a cordial welcome to •him to Maoriland, or anything \of that sort ; he just curtly asked if Malcolm had any letters of introduction to present at Government 'Ouse, and, on his replying m the affirmative, he asked him to hand them over. This was done, and the secretary, or whatever flunkey .it was, bade him a cold "good day," and passed down the gangway. Malcolm had been turned down, and it struck him that Lord Ranfurly had heard of ftis misdeeds at Lurgan, and had cabled to the Governor cancelling the letters he had written. This indicated that something was wrong, and Billy Lee Plunket resolved to get hold of them. He was taking no chances ; it was a good job he got a wire from Ranfurly, otherwise Malcolm would have got at him for a hundred or so (perhaps); he was quite capable of it. The baffled semiaristocrat at once made tracks for Ohristchurch ; he didn't linger long, m a place where he would be gazed at with suspicion. It may be here mentioned that he was m receipt of £275 a year from the Old Country, but he wasn't allowed to receive it himself ; it was sent to the missus. As if that made any . difference ! People who send money to a woman, on her husband's behalf should know that she at once hands it over to him. Be that as it .may, he soon bea?an to make himself known to Christchuroh people. He was a smart, set-up man, dressed m the hvigfot of fashion. He had a different suit for every day m the week, and sometimes he wore knickerbockers, and at other times leggings. It was soon evident that he had kissed the blarney stone all right ; he had a very plausible way with him ; was ironic, elegant, and wickedly witty, and /gay, and cynical, and epigrammatic. Incidentally, he> - was the greatest liar ever born since the death pf the much-discussed Ananias, who is mentioned m the tablets as being a prevaricator of the first water. It was by using the family name, and showing credentials that he first took down various drapers for fivers and tenners who sold ais father's famous linen. He gabbled fluently and they believed he was still . connected with the show, but was temporarily bereft of specie. Then he commenced to borrow from sheer force of habit from high-up business men, despite the fact that he had £275 a year, an amount any man with a small family can live upon. Borrowing became a hobby with him, and his mamfers were so map-hetic and so impulsive that he rarely failed to score. He saw a well-known bank accountant getting change for a fiver at a grog institution one day' and said nothing, but n'hen tbev were parting he searched ,-ris waistcoat, pocket apprehensively. "By jove, I've got to go somewhere important, and I've left my gold m my other clothes, have you rot a soy about you ?" "Yes," was the reply, as he

DKEW OUT A HANDFUL OF COIN. "Better lend, me two ; you will have it when we meet again." "Certainly." and that was how Malcolm scored every time. But he was a man of expensive tastes, and that was why he got through so much. Little presents to Hebe now and .again was one of his little idioscyncracies, and once he got a few m, his friends (for he had many) would have to get him by the coat tails and drag him off the premises. Prett.v often lie used to be seen about the town when it was pretty evident he had been dipping his beak m sundry fountains. But he put up his best record m the sanctity of his „-.vn I'omn v.'here he used to inflame Ms internal membranes with whisky. It is alleged, and is vouched

for, that he got through six; cases of that beverage m five weeks. There was a royal drunk for you— one that would make the heaviest toper m the land turn green with envy. Malcolm could empty a bottle with a gurgle like all Gehenna. But a nip or two like that didn't prevent him from borrowing from people with whom he had become acquainted-; he spoke more fluently, . if anything, when slightly under the influence ; his remarks flew out from behind his teeth m the easiest manner, and when asked for loans, they listened with becoming reverence. Whenever 'Security was mentioned, . Malcolm alluded m dulcet tones to the £275 which he expected by the next boat, and his manner was ■ so convincing that the gonce would be m his pants' pocket m no time. He was a humorist, m his way ; he became acquainted with a geiit who does a bit of money-lending m Oh'aneery-lane, and he tapped him for a quid one day. knowing that no money-lender would advance sixpence without security. To his surprise he got it. He proved himself the champion long-dis-tance borrower while m Christchurch ; money never stuck to his fingers, because he" always kept them clean, but -the bottle gatherer who called at his domicile did pretty well ; he had a fair load to carry away. A certain suburban butcher is still wondering how he could be swindled by a man like Malcolm, whom he had only known a few months. But he talked him over mno time, gassed about the £275, and offered handsome interest, so

MR PORK CHOPS HANDED OVER ,£2O, the" silly galoot. The man's audacity was like a snowball, increasing as it went along. This irresistible Irishman was a devil of a fellow right enough. With him. it was always a question of cold, hard cash, and he never said his prayers. Prior to the gentleman going the pace too strong a well-known business man who had befriended Malcolm, had written to the latter 's mother at Lur-gan, saying ho was likely to do all right. The good lady replied thanking the gentleman for his great kindness to her son, who had a warm corner m her heart. She was quite sure he would have been ' dead only for him. She trusted that her son would now keep steady and outlive the bad name he had got. If he could get somethings to do she would be more satisfied about him. Concluding the letter, she thanked her correspondent for his great kindness to her darling son, and said she knew he would be rewarded from above for it. Well, it was after receiving the above that Malcolm trotted along to the recipient and intimated that he thought of selling his 'shares held m his father's linen factory business. He wanted the money, and he would then start out on his own. ' There was considerable palavering over the matter ; Malcolm said he owned 500 m all, and they were a good investment. It was a long way from Christchurch to Lurgan, but that made no difference so long as it was good business. The intended buyer said he would take on the proposition if Malcolm would sign a declaration, and this was cheerfully acquiesced m. They proceeded to the office of Lawyer Malley, where a declaration was drawn up and signed by the vendor, to the effect that he was possessed of more- than 500 shares m. the firm of James Malcolm, Ltd., they were not encumbered, charged or mortgaged m any way whatever, and he had full power to dispose of them. Well, for those 500 shares, Malcolm received £289 m cash. The purchaser seemed to regret having bought afterwards •; at all events he got a friend of his, who had a brother m Lurgan, to write to him, asking him to make enquiries from the company. The declaration was enclosed. The reply was a startler ; Malcolm didn't have a 'bean m the concern. It Was true that he at one time held 446 shares, but when he igot into trouble aod made a mess of things, and had to leave Ireland, he sold out, other members of the Malcolm family taking them up. There were only a dozen shareholders m all, nine of them being Malcolms. Of the 25,000 shares, Malcolm Senr., holds 23,249. The result of the enquiry . rather staggered the purchaser of shares that had no existence, but he only received the letter the other day, and could do nothing m the matter except write home asking for payment. A while back, Mrs Malcolm sickened of the way her husband was carrying on, and CLEARED OFF WITH HER THREE CHILDREN to England. So as her drunken husband wouldn't starve, she left money with the bank for his maintenance ; he was to get a quid a week, payable every Thursday morning. In the meantime. Malcolm's health had reached a critical stage owing to his drinking proclivities ; he developed delirium tremens, and the man he had cheated (and who as yet didn't know it) had Mm placed m a private hospital. As he had the horrors pretty bad. he had to receive special attention. He gave a great deal of trouble at night, when he saw green bullocks, women dancing on top of lemonade bottles, yellow flies with green tails, and other fantastic objects. It's a wonder he didn't see the national debt dressed m a golden gown with hook-nosed Jews clutching every part of her. Eventually he pulled round, and, on leaving the hospital, he ow«ed about £35 — a little matter that didn't trouble him r much. ' He wagged his tongue until the boss was perfectly satisfied that it would be all right. But there's something more to be said. During the period of his convalescence, the oilv-tongued brute struck up a strong friendship with a nurse there ; they got on amazingly well together, and 1 exchanged the usual confidences, but I it is certain that Malcolm's remarks I were hollow, gaudy, and fictitious.

He .happened to be going down town, and he asked the lady if he could do anything for her ; he "would be only too pleased to be of any use, you know. Yes, the lady wanted £15 placed to ' her credit at the bank, would he be so kind ? Only too happy. of course. And he banked it, yes he banked it . with a hook. He obtained another tenner from some arrant mug who couldn't have any use for it, and, having lifted the qiiids that had accumulated m the bank, he stepped on board 'a boat, and made straight for England, Where he now is. But there has been an aftermath of his quick and lively sojourn m Christchurch. Some time ago, when he wasn't so well known, he found himself pressed for coin, and resolved to visit the little building occupied by money-lender Raphael. This tricky joker was made aware of the wife holding the cash that came from home and all the rest of it, and m the result, Raphael gave him £45 for two months.

CHARGING £10 A MONTH INTEREST ;

so at the end of two months £65 would be due. Well, the bill wasn't met, and two friends (the man who purchased the non-existent shares-be-ing one) took the bill up. They didn't part up, though, getting it extended for another year, at the end of which time they were to pay £103. The year expired the other, day, but owing to some misunderstanding on behalf of those concerned, the money wasn't paid on the nail, and a summons was whipped out, at once for the amount due. A cheque was tendered, but Raphael wouldn't accept it, and counsel for the defendants had nothing to do but to confess judgment, the Magistrate saying that the case should never have come, before the Court. Why the usurer should have been so nasty no one can explain. But more remains. . The original cheque was replaced by another signed by the other man who took up the bill. He went round to the office of the usurer and handed it to the clerk, demanding a receipt. The, clerk . hesitated for some time about acting on liis own .resnonsibility. However, he eventually complied with the request, but remarked that the correct amount was £103 Bs, whereupon the man said he would send the few shillings around right \away. Soon afterwards Raphael happened into the office, and grew furious ; he didn't want the cheque, so he sent the clerk round to exchange it for the receipt again, the reason— a silly reasonbeing that it wasn't made out for Lhe correct amount. The pair didn't see the maker of the cheque, who held the receipt, -they met ttie other, man to the bill and asked him to take his partner's cheque, which he resolutely declined to do. The truth is, so it is alleged, that Raphael desired to issue execution ; he knew he would get his money all right, 'I)ut he acts m curious and wonderful ways. Well, that eight bob was still owina and it is altetfed fjivat distress was at oiiee issued for that, the costs bringing the amount up to 235, or thereabouts. Now, if all these allegations arc true, and "Truth" has been given them as gospel, Raphael is too damned smart to live. All he parted with at the outset was £45, and interest on that for fourteen months was £58 Bs, but some of that was costs. His refusal to accept the cheque of a leading business man m the city, and his subsequent actions are absolutely inexplicable. It may be that he suspected that there was something wrong with the bill at the outset ; at any rate, he was very anxious that Mrs Malcolm shouldn't leave the country :; that is well known to those concerned. However, people who have' dealings with this fellow Raphael have to mind their P's and Q's. The Ghristchurch. usurers are about

THE WORST IN THE COLONY, and that is saying a 'great deal.

Well, James Malcolm, Junr., did well, and caused a good deal of trouble •during his brief stay m Ohristchurch. He showed that as a financier he is a true .genius, and for ineffable cheek lie takes the brass band. When he came out of the hospital as fresh as - uncorked sparkling Burgandy and packed up his. impedimenta prior to departure, he must have reflected upon the good time he had had, for he led a life of unrestricted license and enjoyment* As for the creditors —well,', it is a dark theme to 'touch upon, as far as some. of theni are concerned. They. got hurt m their pockets, and are now exercising a spirit of prudence, coupled with a . disposition towards retrenchment. As to the others, those who got hit worst, for the most part, it was a knock, but they took the merry rattat m good part. One jokingly remarked that . Malcolm had swindled and robbed citizens but he had done so m a most respectable manner. He, he ! Another remarked that he believed Malcolm would have the cheek to raise money _by mortgaging the family pew. A third observed, as he ohinned the end off his cigar, that it was something of a pleasure to be robbed by a well-dressed rogue, who >could talk a parliament down, drink a bar dry, and persuade you that he was reallv, doing you a favor by deigning to borrow a few quid from you. Well, Machinating, Machiavelian Malcolm got away when his creditors weren't looking, and they hadn't a chance to force him to his impenitent knees. It is estimated that what he borrowed, and what he nTit by roguery, runs to over £800.