A ROAD TO FORTUNE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 161, 6 January 1912, Page 10 (Supplement)

A ROAD TO FORTUNE

Hans Muller, a copying clerk in the Law Court of Berlin at a salary of 30s a week, recently discovered a new highroad to fortune, and travelled some distance along it before the police put an end to his career. He managed to make the acquaintance of many wealthy people and to secure their interest by telling stories of his success as an inventor, and stating that through the good offices of a high official in the Patent Department he was enabled to do profitable business in the exploitation of marketable inventions. His stories were supported by plausible manners, remarkable readiness in lying and a number of exceedingly ingenious expedients. In the early days of his scheming he made a practice of informing the wives of his intended victims that through some mysterious as--1 sociation of which he was a member he was able to purchase provisions at very low prices. If the ladies expressed a desire to share in these benefits he would buy the goods asked for at current rates I and pass them on to the delightful housewives at a fraction of the cost, defraying the difference out of his own pocket. He also distributed among his friends many opera and theatre tickets, which he professed to obtain by virtue of his high connections, but which he really bought at the booking office like any ordinary mortal. These devices served his purpose well, enabling him to win the confidence of friends who had money, and to induce them to purchase interests in I his patent transactions. Their first in- j vestments always were repaid with handsome profits, which increased their confidence, their avarice and their speculations. Muller's scheme proved exceedingly remunerative for himself. The police have ascertained that his "takings" amounted to £20,000 in a single year, and when he was arrested he had £SOOO in his pockets, many of his friends bavin" retained their faith in him in spite oAhe "failure" of some of their "investments " A curious feature of the case is that although the young man, under an assumed name, spent money right and loft amongst his victims, he continued to live with his mother and sister the modest life of an ill-paid clerk.