MAN FROM NEW ZEALAND.

Shannon News, 10 August 1923, Page 3

MAN FROM NEW ZEALAND.

SYDNEY DOVE AFFAIR. iIANY TIMES MARRIED. The Sydney police are at present investigating a most extraordinary case in which an elderly man said to have come here from New Zealand, is advertising that "a gentleman, with means, 61, highly respectable, would like to meet companionable lady, same-position, view matrimony, genuine."

The police believe that even In the last week lie has been married several times, and one yenture which concluded on Tuesday, brought £6oo' to the pocket of the amorous old gentleman.

The description of the man as given by the police is as follows: — About 60 years of age, slim to medium .build, dark hair, dark sallow complexion, bald spot on the top or the head with hair brushed ovei; it from tlie side, walks very erectly, has a slightly foreign appearance, courteous in manner and speech, wears a dark suit, grey felt hat with straight brim, and occasionally carries a stick. He first met the lady who has' "been defrauded about a fortnight ago. She replied to his advertisement in a Syd* ney paper. \ The lady in the case, who 1b a widow with some means, and 60 years of age, replied to the advertisement more as a joke than for any other reason, but the demeanour of the man when she met him by appointment was so prepossessing that she began to think that Romance was not deadeven at the age of 60. He visited the house, and so impressed the lady that she told him many things about her own position financially, thinking that Jhe would make a .great companion for the remainder of her life. On his part, he told her that he had considerable means, was evefi then buying a cottage in one of the suburbs, and eventually he suggested that they should get married. The woman agreed, and on Tuesday they visited a clergyman’s house in one of the subuibs, where the man introduced her to, two of his friends, Who witnessed the ceremony. After the minister had pronounced them man and wife her new husband suggested that they should have dinner in town to celebrate; and that they should fix up their banking affairs. When they reached town he announced that he had decided to withdraw £SOO from his account,'and if she would draw a like amount He would deposit the £IOOO at the locftl bank iu her name, so that she 'would have some money on which to operate until they settled down. He drew out a cheque book and wrote a cheque for £6OO, and she drew £SOO from her bank and gave it to him. He put her notes in his pocket with the cheque he had drawn, and they Ihon visited a city restaurant to have a celebration dinner. During the course of the meal ho appeared to become ill, and telling his wife that .it was only a slight seizure., he left the resaurant, ostensibly to get some fresh air. Apparently he is still getting the air, for he did not return, and the woman, thinking he; might have become ill outside, called in the assistance of a constable. Eventually, when he did not return, she realised that there was something seriously amiss, and consulted some of her relatives, whoHoon saw that she had been the victim of a clever ruse. The detectives are now looking for the old man.