A Swindler.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 450, 1 March 1890, Page 5

A Swindler.

The Gay Military Man.

Somf weeks ago a swindler was tried and condemned by the Paris Police Tribunal for having obtained money by false pretences from several damsels whom he dazzled by effecting various transformation scenes of a military character. At one time he appeared before his admiring victims as a ‘Captain of Hussars,’ and at another as a light and airy ‘ Linesman of the FootChasseurs.’ The Paris correspondent of the London ‘Telegraph’said : This criminal has found an imitator in a person calling himself Lefevre, who has relied for the j accomplishment of his moral and material

conquests not on the military, but on the naval 1 trick.’ Lcfevre, who is really an ex-clerk in a shipping office in a maritime town, dressed himself in naval uniform, and gave himself out in Paris as tho commander of a corvette. He did not aim, however, at high game, but contented himself with cajoling a white-capped bonne or female servitor in a ‘ Bouillon - Duval.’ Mdlle. Besancon had gold, jewels, and valuable paper securities to a considerable amount. She was 46 years old. In an evil moment she listened to the voice of the charmer in the person of the gorgeous naval officer, whose gold-decked uniform was made additionally resplendent by the

Cross of the Legion of Honor, the Order of Cambodia, and that highest of honourable decorations, the Military Medal. To this person Mdlle. Besancon confided the secret of her accumulated savings. Three days afterwards Lefevre asked the damsel to marry him. She was to be a belle at maritime balls and festivals in Brest, Cherbourg, Toulon, and other places. Mdlle. Besancon left her employment, and wrote at Lefevre’s dictation, an application for permission to marry him, to the Minister of Marine, setting forth in due form the amount of her dowry. This letter her suitor promised to forward to its destination, and a few days afterward he told her that he was obliged to pay in the amount of her dowry to the Ministry, but that he was temporarily short of £240, required by the naval regulations in tbe matter of dowries of persons desirous of marrying officers. Mdile. Besancon accordingly handed over to her lover £l6O in solid bullion, a Panama Canal security, an exhibition lottery bond, a peai-1 bracelet worth £9, and a gold ring. Lefevre then went with her to the Ministry of Marine, in order to hand in the sum required according to his showing. Of course he carefully left Mdlle. Besancon outside the building while he entered it, and in about a quarter of an hour he returned to her with an apparent receipt for the monoy signed, sealed, and delivered in duo form by the Minister and the Chief jNaval Accountant. The marriage was now arranged, but Lefevre said that before it could take place he was obliged to show up at Cherbourg in order to inspect his corvette. He left Mdlle. Besancon, wrote her a letter from the naval port, and then remained silent so ong that the lady began to grow uneasy, and made inquiries respecting her abeent swain at the Ministry of Marine, where Lefevre was totally unknown. The police unearthed Lefevre, alias Guillemaux, who had already made several dupes. From an unsophisticated schoolmistress he had extracted £2O and some jewels, as retired officer who had been wounded in Tonquin, and wanted funds to enter a certain employment. From another lady he had obtained about £IOO on similar pretences. He has been sent to prison for thirteen months.