AN EXTRAORDINARY HOAX.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 4, Issue 1055, 22 April 1882, Page 2

AN EXTRAORDINARY HOAX.

Tragedy and comedy run aide by side and blond in human life, and sido by side with the tearful story of Geargina Moore, the columns of the daily Press (says a home paper) have been filled by the most laughable story of deception and hupn credulity that has been listoned to for many a day; Mary Jane Fearneaiix, the perpetrator oV those astounding hoaxes, which confirm 'the adage that truth is stranger than fiction, carried on ft double personation, representing herself as an lfejress to untold wealth, and as a young nobleman supposed to be dead. In the latter, capacity slip won the affections and broke the heart of a. yoymg lady, now a raving rnanjao, confined in a lunatjp asyjumj the victim of blighted love. In t)}e fqr: mer capacity she deceived lierojd inqther, to begin with, ai]d sent a man. whom she had robbpd Jo gapl for a threatening letter she had forged ; swindling others, moneylenders tradesmen, farmers, lawyers, to the number of hundreds, and to tho tune of ovor L 15,000. This alio did by forged letters from tho Queen, the Prince of Wales, the Lord Chief Justice, Earl Granville, Peers and Commoners of high and low degree, counted by hundreds ; and' her collection of genuine )l?ttB"B in ilio bauds of the police show in one Givss a }juv}4F Q fl Mid fifty trom ouo individual, each having been the radium of communicating tail f)l ! ' twenty {fiqnclp; and scores of others beting' lie'r 'acceptance of money, or pleading' with her hot to cease' receiving remittances' In her chequered career filje l)as ! been clerk, governess, barmaid, and bootmaker, 'but; entering oVjj}e'h//»b : |r wa/ks' of l|fe, ehe has won a UMiya for herseff that should bo handed down jii hjatopy, Tho tact with which ehe silencta! suspicion, and turned tliom into enthusiasm, almost exceeds belief, and people are lost in' wonder, not more at her cleverness than at the fathomless depth of credulity thai may pxisfc ip {lie miuds of the keenest business 1 ''piety &j[ ary Jane Fpampaux dese'v'vos a niche in'the femnlo ! of' Ipie