ROMANCE AND ROGUERY.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 April 1922, Page 11

ROMANCE AND ROGUERY.

CANADIAN “DOCTOR’S” LOVE AFFAIR. . Romance and roguery are hopelessly intermixed in the story of part of the career of a bogus Canadian doctor. But Fate, in the person of two detectives, has brought the romance to an unhappy conclusion, while his roguery has placed the adventurer behind prison bars. The story, as it is told by the Sydney Daily Telegraph, also illustrates the part played in human affairs by coincidence, and the value of a woman’s intuiton. One afternoon recently a lady timorously entered police headquarters in Sydney. She eventually saw an officer, to whom she confessed her suspicions regarding a man who had represented himself as a Canadian doctor, and who had so impressed her sister that the pair had, become engaged. So far had the matter gone that arrangements had been made for an early wedding. The “doctor” was so magnanimous that he had agreed to take the sister back to Canada after the marriage had, been celebrated. But the sis - ter was not too certain of his sincerity. That explained her visit to the Detective Office. DETECTIVES TAKE A HAND. This was where Detective Young came into the matter, for the case was referred to him. He suggested a visit to the home of the two girls, who were well connected and in good circumstances. It was agreed that he should make his appearance that evening. He was to be introduced as a very dear friend of the suspicious sister. Events moved without a hitch, and he made the acquaintance of the “doctor.”

The latter lost no opportunity of impressing the new -arrival, and his manner struck Detective Young as vaguely reminiscent of a man who had represented himself to a city tailor as a visiting medico, and obtained several suits of clothes, for which no payment had been made.

Leaving by an earlier boat than the bogus medico, the detective hastened to his headquarters and enlisted the aid of Detective Cosmans in shadowing the man who was under suspicion to his home. He had stated that he lived at Darlinghurst. Detective Comans had, a hard job to keep the “doctor” under surveillance, but eventually followed him to Neutral Bay. CAREER CUT SHORT. The unsuspecting object of the attention of the detectives had arranged to spend the next evening with his fiancee. During the day, however, the police officers had been in touch with the tailor, and had suggested his attendance at Circular Quay. Up to this stage, Detectives Young and Comans had been treading on dangerous ground, as they “had nothing on” the man, and were merely working on suspicion. The tailor took up his position outside one of the ferry wharves, while the detectives separated and waited. They stationed themselves in such a position that any sign from the tailor would be easily seen from theyr vantage points. Along came the “doctor.” Well groomed, debonair, and with a cigar in his mouth, he looked all he represented himself to be. But a sign from the tailor brought Nemesis. A hand fell on his shoulder, and Detective Comans intimated to him that his attendance at the detective office was a necessity. The “doctor” protested vehemently. Such action was an unbearable insult. He would make someone suffer for the indignity. THE DENOUNCEMENT.

But the detective was persistent. The “medico” was later lodged at the Centrad Police Station. And there was where he met Detective Young again. He told the latter that he was being unjustly treated. Some fearful mistake had been made, and he enlisted the aid of his recently-made “friend.” His surprise when informed of the real identity of the man he was addressing almost brought his collapse. Before his trial, investigations revealed that his story of his Canadian medical career was a fabrication, and he was sentenced to a term of imprisonment. His fiancee, who had been informed of the facts of the case, found that her disappointment at the short-lived love affair was outweighed by the relief at her escape from marrying a rogue. And the “doctor” is anathematising all strangers,’ especially when they ate detectives, while the suspicious sister is doubtless congratulating herself on her intuition.