THE “AGE” INFORMANT A HOTEL SWINDLER.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2830, 20 April 1882, Page 3

THE “AGE” INFORMANT A HOTEL SWINDLER.

Tell it not in Gath, mention it not in the streets of Askalon. The Radical power of Melbourne, the newspaper governed by one of the keenest intellects that ever a journalist or politician possessed, has been hoaxed by a common hotel sharp. All the romance attaching to the “ Argus” Russian invasion scare has been knocked out of it. Bryant is not even a raving lunatic, or an interesting monomaniac. The reason of his exile is dubious, as it is not known for certain whether he tried to save his country or to steal a watch. Most people, judging from his developed predilections, think he left his country for his country’s good, through the latter cause. We have already stated that" Major” Bryant, soidisant trusted agent of the Czar of all the Russias, the linguist, the Nihilist, was a New Caledonian deports —one “ Comte Henri G- Fitzgerald de Beaumont.” He arrived in Melbourne two years ago from Noumea. More than 12 months since he obtained by passing a valueless cheque about a £IOO worth of | jewel lory from Mr Flegeltaub, of Melbourne. He was arrested, and on March 18,1881, sentenced to 12 month’s gaol for that offence, being discharged from Pentridgo Gaol about January last. While incarcerated he on many occasions referred to his invention of an extraordinary sort of torpedo, which was in time to make his fortune. In addition to his occupation of linguist, agent, Communist, and passer of a valueless cheque, he used to be by profession a Chemist, In the New South Wales Police “ Gazette” a description of a man corresponding with that of the “ Count” is given. He is referred to as “De Beaumont,” and he appearently came to Sydney after his release from Now Caledonia in the early portion of 1880. He was a patriot whose vital juices required canvas-back duck, like Mark Twain’s Irish exile at Delmonico’s. Ho could not suffer his high imaginings to be tied to earth by the chains of sixpenny meals and the fresh night air of the Domain. Ho still loved his Idle France , but he thought

he could sacrifice, at the altar of patriotism best when surrounded by tho sweetness and light of a firstclass hotel. So the Count wont to a first-class hostelry in the region of Church Hill. The proprietor took him in and, shortly, De Beaumont returned the compliment. A warrant for the Count’s arrest was obtained by Boniface, hut that nobleman had left the city, shaken off the dost of Sydney, and departed, consequently the warrant was not executed. Subsequently, as already stated, Bryant sought the seclusion of Pentridge Stockade, and only emerged from his retirement two months ago. What he has since done we all know. Probably the “Age" proprietary will not pay the moiety of remuneration, promised to him for the disclosed despatches, after the Russian invasion. Possibly the moiety already paid will keep Bryant comfortably for a time, and he is not likely to ask for the rest. Patriots are usually very contented when they go into exile.—“ Sydney Telegraph.”