AN IMPUDENT FRAUD.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2773, 11 February 1882, Page 3

AN IMPUDENT FRAUD.

A Liverpool gentleman, holding a good position in a local bank, was recently.the victim of an audacious swindle on the part of a New York long firm. This gentleman’s son went out to

seek his fortune in the New World, and his resources having dwindled down to a five pound note,, thanks sightseeing aflcT' travellnigj’he' determined' to/get something to do. He therefore answered an -advertisement for a traveller to a New York firm, and finding that they wanted references he gave ’his; father’s name and address in Liverpool, and told ..his prospective era ployers that hid only worldly goods were a fiye-ppund note, a gold watch and'chain, and an extra suit of clothes. After some apparent consideration, the firm agreed to accept the security, and the note, chain, and. clothes were lodged with them, the traveller being handed a list of accounts and other matters, with, which he vas despatched up country oh a journey. He went on hir way rejoicing, at his,good luck, but he soon had cause for a very different feeling. He discovered that, the firm to whom ; he was sent not only did hot know the New York firm he. repre sented, but alsorepndiated any indebtedness to the firm. A suspicion that he had been swindled at length dawned upon the traveller, and he. made haste back to New York to find that the birds had flown and the place of business was empty. He being left altogether without resources, wart obliged to communicate with his friends at home, when he learned to his surprise that they 'were bewailing him as dead. t His father had received A a commuhicatioYr from the New York firm, who had so kindly given him employment ’ statingthat' hie son, who had,been travelling :fpr them r ':had, they regretted to state, seized wjth; an.attack-of fever,.from yvhich he had died. ' Knowing that he was respectabiy connected, » these good Samaritans had, they stated, given him decent interment and pffforined the last offices for their servant in, a manner consistent with his position. Ah undertaker’s bill was enclosed, which although it was evidently an exorbitant one, the stricken father paid,.sendiag.thp amount to the address of the firni. Be received an acknowledgment,, with’' theifurtbcr suggestion that he would perhaps like to have a handsothe .monument erected over the poor boy._ Almost simultaneously with this audaifcourtCommunication was received a letter.from

■the ;<t poof "boy ” relating the 1 story of the swindle of which,he bad-.been the victim. ' Thh father’s‘ feelings can be better imagined than described, - He, however, consoled himself uMfh the reflection that although he, had been victimized to the extent of’ being induced to pay for ; ,a fictitious funeral /he , had at least been spared the cost of a handsome