A CASE OF EXTRAORDINARY SIMPLICITY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4398, 20 April 1893, Page 3

A CASE OF EXTRAORDINARY SIMPLICITY.

Detectives Ward and Macmananiy are at present investigating a ease of alleged fraud, which, if true, has seldom been equallod in the colonies. The particulars are bo extraordinary that they require the exercise of considerable credulity. Yet they are, so far as investigation hae gone, absolutely correct. The victim of tho fraud is a farm labourer named Wm, Wallace, who, having accumulated over £3OO by toil in tho back blocks c.f South Australia, came recently t) Melbourne to enjoy a holiday. He had not been long in tho city before he mado tho acqiwiutanco of thrco young men of excellent appearance and.smart address, who showed themselves to bo familiar with all parts of South Australia, and therefore companions for'1)1111 of an acceptable kind. . . Together the four mado a tour of tho city and its hotels, and from timo to. time Wallace bad opportunities of studying the men whom lie had met.- They had plenty of money so it- appeared, and a heartiness in spending it which impressed him, Just at this point ho gave them his entire confidence, Ho told them of his years of toil and self denial, and of his accumulation of Irs three hundred and odd earned ■ sovereigns, Tho friends were in their turn, equally, frank and ■ confidential. • Une was the son of a squatter,.the seconds successful landspeculaior, and the third the'" heir of a fabulously wealthy. Fiji planter, ; who on dying bad left bU' son.a princely sum npo>i one. condition only—that he should'assist'- to tho best., of his ability any se'rviiig maii he met. The story of the outer old plan'; ler dying urnlir a palm treo .with his family round him was told with due emphasis.. He was. an orphan, and sta ted life in tho London streets. He bad emigrated! and had. worked hard until he overcame every difficulty and amassed a fortune.. To his last day he remembered his start in life, : and his heart went out lb.those who were situated in youth and uianhool as be had been. Consequently with his wealth his sons also inherited the responsibility of doing as much good to honest,.hardworking,' and deserving mankind as' they could., Wallace was proud to learn tint lie Was one of this order of beings, and still prouder when the son of the benevolent old planter promised to give him £IOO for .every £]oo lie could produce and swear to as the result of honest toil, The South Australian was urged by tho two friends of the planter, to test tbe matter, and be promised to do 60 as toon as he could withdraw his money, from the bank at Adelaide, where it «as lodged. More drinks were eon • sumed, and then the company separated, and Wallace went ,to Adelaide and dtew his money. He returned in haste, and by appoiutuient met his influential. friends at a hotel in the city. The business in hand was soon disposed of. Wallace placed £ 100 in notes in a.hat, and the son of-the planter covered it. with.what .appeared to bo>'£loo ; iiote. This, performance was repeated twice, wheir Wallace, having deposited his full capital, of £BOO, reached put his hand for the £6OO. , He was scarcely quick enough, Cue of the others seized the hat before liiin, and the.three'ran out byaside door. - Wallace followed tliem, but could not discover a cluotothein, and after hours of fruitless search abandoned the task, and sought the Assistance of; police. Warrants, have been issued for the arrest of tlio three men, but these cuses are so seldom cleared up .that the chance? are against this one being successfully iavestigatcd,— l Argus,'