GUNTER AGAIN

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 623, 27 March 1929, Page 1

GUNTER AGAIN

ACTIVITIES IN ENGLAND POLICE SEEK “SCARFACE” TRICKSTER WHO WAS IN AUCKLAND The activities of Robert Gunter, who created a mild sensation in Auckland last year as ‘ Sir Robert Gunter,” are disturbing the London police. Gunter left New Zealand, for this country’s good. In November., last year, and since then appears to have been masquerading as Sir Ronald Gunter, the real baronet, who lives in Yorkshire. The English police are inquiring into the activities of a g.-ntleman known as “Scarface,” who is believed to be Robert Gunter, and who has used the names of Butler and Hunter. It will be remembered that while in Auckland last year Gunter masqueraded as Surgeon-Commander Joy. and deluded several boardinghouse-keep-ers in the city. Later he appeared before the Court and then disappeared into the country for a time. The next time Gunter returned to Auckland he came as "Sir Robert” and succeeded in hoodwinking the tramway authorities and some business

firms. It was not until he reached Sydney and in an interview referred to the Auckland tramways that the hoax was discovered. He returned to Auckland late last year and announced his intention of returning to England, which he did in November. Gunter, who is described as a confidence trickster in the English papers, has caused considerable discomfort to the real baronet and his wife. Sir Ronald and Lady Gunter, of Park Hill, Yorkshire. Recently, when they were spending a holiday at Folkestone, Sir Ronald and Lady Gunter returned to find a police-inspector waiting to see them. Afterwards Lady Gunter said to a “Daily Mail” reporter that the police had apparently found that people were staying at the hotel registered as Sir Ronald and Lady Gunter. The inspector had what was apparently an official description of Robert Gunter and was waiting to identify her husband. He found out, of course, that the description in no way tallied. “There was a similar occurrence some time ago, before my husband came of age (he is now 24),” continued Lady Gunter, “and it is really somewhat annoying. The same thing has also happened in Yorkshire. "Whenever we are announced people raise their eyebrows and look at us curiously. Apart from that, the police are always asking us if we are the genuine bearers of the title.”