MAN OF MANY WILLS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9224, 23 June 1909, Page 7

MAN OF MANY WILLS.

An old white-haired man named William Manning appeared in the dock at the Palmerston North Magistrate's Court on Monday on a charge of being a rogue and a vagabond. Sergeant Stagpoole stated the man had represented to some people in the country that he had a great deal of property, and he made out a will in their favour, the result being that he was boarded for a considerable time and received a sum of money from them. The will turned out to be a bogus one. It appeared the old man had been in the habit of making out wills of a similar nature--one of which was for a copper mine in the Kuahines —and had duped other people in a similar way. The Sergeant said the wills were palpably faked, and it was a wonder that anybody should be taken in by them. In reply to the Stipendiary Magistrate, Manning said he was 83 years of age and had come to New Zealand in 1863. "I would be independent now if the snow was off the Kaimanawas," said the old man mournfully, which remark did not appear to have much relevancy unless another copper mine was hidden away in the northern range.

As he had been under police protection for a week and promised never to make out any more wilis accused was convicted and discharged.