SINGULAR CASE OF FRAUD

Temuka Leader, Issue 1154, 29 September 1883, Page 3

SINGULAR CASE OF FRAUD

One of the most singular cases of fraud and deception which has ever come to light will, it is thought, shortly engage the attention of 'the law courts. Two engineers who hare for tlie last eight or nine years carried on business in partnership in the neighbourhood of Broad street, and who had by skill and industry raised themselves to a position of importance, have lately taken more extended premises, and added to their trade that of iron-founding. In this new branch they have been obliged to enter fresh markets for the purchase of iron and j other raw material, and have experienced throughout a most unaccountable difficulty in obtaining credit. At last, only a few days ago, one of them discovered -that the cause of this was that the other partner had a bill of sale on his private furniture. When accused of acting unfairly to his partner in this way he indignantly denied it. ‘Oh,’ but said his informant, ‘ Ive seen it in Stubbs’.’ When asked if he had signed a bill of sale on bis goods, he replied with a great surprise that he had not. However, the files of Kemps, Stubbs, and other trade circulars were duly searched, and it was discovered that the goods of the partner who protested his innocence had been duly assigned to a money lender for more than twelve months. Inquiries were made, and it was found that the bill had been signed by thft suspected partner’s father-in-law, a worthless old man, who had dissipated a competency which had been left him in intemperate living, and then persuaded bis daughter to assist him in obtaining an advance from the moneylender. He induced her to represent that be was her husband, and that the furniture belonged to him, and to pay the weekly intalments of the debt out of the money allowed her for housekeeping by her husband. When the fraud was found out the partner who had been accused learned that the bailiffs had been in his house frr unpaid instalments, that his rent was more than a quarter in arrear, and altogether there was enough owing to absorb any extra profits he might make for some little time to come. The father-in-law bolted as soon as he knew of tire discovery. A writ has been taken out against the money-lender, and the case, which is looked forward to with great interest, will come on in a few days.--Birmingham Daijy Mail.