CAREER OF A STIRLING SWINDLER.

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 12, 2 May 1868, Page 4

CAREER OF A STIRLING SWINDLER.

•The young swindler, M'Dermid, who it may be recollected, victimised several of the Stirling "hotelkeepers some two years ago, turned up in Glasgow on Saturday last, where, however, he was speedily detected as an impostor, and lodged in prison. The career of the young scamp, is in many respects a respects a remarkable one, from the singular success which has attended his impositions. His father waß a native of Stirling, and ot one time well known as a working Bhoemaker. On his death, " John," who was then but a boy, was sent to the Stirling poorbouse, fcoua which he more than once attempted to escape. He joined the Ist Royals in 1857, as bugle boy and drummtr; but in 1862 he was tried by court-martial for insubordination, and sentenced to bo imprisoned for eighty-four days, and thereafter dismissed the service. He next reappeared in Stirling, representing that he had been discharged with a good conduct certißcate, and lived for a time on his friends, picking up a living somehow at th» hotels. He suddenly left town one day, and nothing was known as to his whereabouts for a long time. But two years ago, a gentleman, representing himself as the Hon. E. T. Lawson, son of the late Lord Provost of Edinburgh, put up at the Prince of Wales Hotel, Stirling. He stated that he intended to call on several military friends at the Castle, aud after staying there for a couple days— in which time he succeeded in getting several articles from parties in town without paying for them — he decamped. He seems to have repeated this mode of imposition in several other Scotch towns, and then transferred the ecene of his operations to the wider field of England; At Preston, he succeeded in victimising Captain Rennie of the 90th Light infantry, and other officers, and also several hotelkeepers. He was there tried for his malpractices, and sent to prison for 15 months. At Colchester he managed to extort a sum of money from a SegeantMajor and other officers of the 17th Lancers, for which he was sent five months to prison. Nothing more was heard of the ** hon. gentlemau" till Saturday last, when he arrived in Glasgow, and took up his quarters in the Rose Hotel. On Sunday he ordered a cab and proceeded to the Infantry Barracks, and inquired for the Sergeant-Major on duty there, and on that gentleman making his appearance, he (M'Dermid) represented that he had been in Canada, and had called to deliver a message from Pipe-Major Macpherson. The Sergeant Major, who had seen the " Hon. E. T. Lawson " previously (having been victimised by him) put some questions to him which he was unable satisfactorily to answer. The fellow then invited the Sergeant-Major to visit him at the hotel where he was residing. This was agreed to ; but instead of going direct to the "Rose," the officer informed the police of the matter. Sub-Inspector Smith called at the hotel in the course of the day, and found the " Hon. E. T. Laweon " endeavoiing to make himself comfortable there, and requested him to go along to the Police Office, which he somewhat reluctantly consented to do, .and -where he, it is almost needless to add, was accommodated with a cell. It is to be hoped that the " hon. gentleman " may next be sentenced to such a term of imprisonment as will put a stop to his impositions for the next seven years.—" Observer,"