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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1207, 22 November 1882, Page 2

The Dunedin correspondent of the “ Cromwell Argus ” gives the following details regardding Corfitz Cronquist, a'well known forger. In 1867 he passed through the Otago Goldfields lecturing on Phrenology and some time ago was writing ‘ Prison Portraits ’ in Sydney. He was in gaol for forgery or passing valuless cheques when Mr Vogel started a morning paper in Dunedin called The Sun in opposition to the Daily Times. On coming out, by the influence of the prison chaplain, he was given the position of proof-reader on the paper ; for although a Swede by birth he vm a competent English compositor. But he couldn’t keep away from drawing cheques, and although getting a wage of £5 a week, once got into trouble for forging a cheque for the paltry sum of £l. Serving a sentence for this, he next made his appearance in Tuapeka During his stay there Dr. Goodsir wae sentenced to three years for stealing a gold watch, It was found in his pocket when he was drunk and there were some who eaid Corfitz had put it there to shield suspicion from himself. However, Corfitz soon went back to his old quarters, having passed a valueless cheque in Wetherstones. Released from gaol once more, ho made tracks to Fiji, where after several disreputable episodes, the authorities, haviug no gaol, declared him a rogue and vagabond in the “ Fiji Times,” whereupon he took sail for Sydney. He was no time there before he was in Paramatta gaol, this time for something like ten years, for forging On obtaining his freedom once more he wrote * Prison Sketches ’ in the Svdney “ Bulletin,” but the series was suddenly interrupted by Corfitz forging the name of the “ Bulletin ” editor to a cheque and being recommitted to his dungeon cell, where he now Sines. Such is part of the history of a conrmed criminal, although a clever, welleducated man.