A CLEVER HOAX.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1201, 8 July 1884, Page 3

A CLEVER HOAX.

One of the cleverest hoaxes ever perpetrated was invented hy Switt, and intended for the public good. He caused to be printed and circulated some “ Last Words ” of a street robber named Elliston, purporting to be written shortly before his execution, in which the condemned thief was made to say, “ Now, as I am a dying man, I have done something which may be of good use to the public, I have left with an honest man—the only honest man I was ever acquainted with—the names of all my wicked brethren, the places of their abode, with a short account of the crimes they have committed, in many of which I have been their accomplice, and heard the rest from their own mouths, I have likewise set down the names of those whom we call out setters, of the wicked houses we frequent, and all of those who receive or buy our stolen goods. I have solemnly charged this honest man, and have received his promise upon oath, that whenever he hears ot any rogue to be tried for robbery or housebreaking he will look into his list, tnd if he finds the name there of the thief concerned to send the whole paper to the Government. Of this I here give my companions fair and public warning, and hope they will take it.” We are told that the Dean’s ruse succeeded so well that street robberies were for many years after few and far between.