ATTEMPT TO SWINDLE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 316, 16 February 1910, Page 7

ATTEMPT TO SWINDLE.

! BY BOGUS TELEGRAM. i WANGANUI WFBB PROVES TOO ; GOOD FOR ■■WHELCH." i ; Wanganui. Friday. I The police here and at Wellington are at present investigating a case in .which someone, at Wellington attempt- ; etl to obtain the sum of £lO from 'William Webb, the well-known -«ullrr, by . im.aii.--i of false pretences. j It appeaiv that, a short time ago ] Webb received a telegram from Wellington signed "George Wheleh," inti- | mating that he (Wheleh) had arrived ' in Wellington, and asking Webb to wire • him MJIO. The Wanganui sculler was rather. surprised on receiving this message, as lie wondered at Wheleh —if he |wero in Wellington at all—being short ,of money. He sent a reply to the effect that he would forward the amount re-, I quired on the receipt of proof that the ! sender of the message was who he represented himself to be. Webb also, at I the same time, despatched a wire to ! Mr. M. Daley, otf Akaroa. who is one. [of Wheleb's chief supporters, asking I where Wheleh was. To this message be received a reply that Wheleh was at I Akaroa, where he was engaged grass- ! seeding. The little scheme therefore i failed, though it might easily have i proved successful.

About the same time a well-known coastal skipper was victimised to the extent of £2 by someone who wrote a letter to him and signed himself William Webb, representing that be (Webb) required some material from Wellington in connection with his boatbuilding business, and asking the skipper if he would oblige by leaving £2 at a certain shop in Wellington to enable a friend of Webb's to buy the goods, which would subsequently be taken aboard #he captain's' boat for him to deliver to Webb. It was mentioned that should the captain not see Wahb himself, he would be able to collect Ms , money from Mr. ,W. Tuck, at i nui. Everything appeared to fit in well, and the captain left the money when I requested, but nothing further was heard of the goods. Subsequently it was discovered that the letter was a swindle and the signature a forgery, as Webb had never written to the captain in question, nor had he authorised any one else to do so.

The swindler who worked this' scheme is probably the same person who sent the telegram purporting to be from Wheleh, and whoever be is he must have a fair knowledge of Wanganui people.—Times correspondent.'