THE PAWN-TICKET "FAKE."

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 9265, 27 April 1892, Page 3

THE PAWN-TICKET " FAKE."

Mr Alexander, by profession a pawnbroker, and Mr Harold Bay, of various professions, were yesterday arrested for conspiracy t3 defraud. Mr Alexander and Mr Bay may be as innocent of the charges against them bb the proverbial "child anbern," but the police allege that those gentlemen have been guilty of what !b commonly known as " the pawnticket fake." That, being interpreted, describes a low form ot roguery in vogue in the large towns of Europe and America. But it is specially a "Cockney" fraud, dividing the "honors" witli the more humorous swindle in which a bold smuggler, npon whose head a price is set, sells bundles of herby cigars to confiding dupes, who fancy that in buying tlioy arc assisting to defraud the Customs. To explain the fraud that Mr Alexander and Mr Harold Bay are charged witb, let us suppose that there are in Napier persons who bear the name of Cranby, Heron, Prebble, Cornell, &c. Let it be further supposed that Mr Harold Bay goes to one Cranby with a tale about a diamond ring. This is a very valuable ring ,we wi'l say, bought in Ecgland for £15, and a bargain at that. Well, untoward circumstances have cansed Mr Harold Bay to need the assistance of bis "uncle," Mr Alexander, who lends the unfortunate Mr Bay £5 on this valuable ring. When interest on the £5 has accumulated until it amounts to £2, Mr Bay, being still unfortunate, finds that he is not in position to redeem the ring, and be offers to one Cranby for 15; the pawn ticket giving the right of redemption, The pawn ticket is purchased, the ring redeemed (at a total cost of £7 16s), and then the purchaser finds that be has got what can be bought retail in any jeweller's shop for about £3. Naturally he (eels angry, and believes that tbls Is a hollow world. Then the still unfortunate Mr Bay sees one Carnell, about another valuable ring, and one Heron, about an equally valuable watch and chain, and again business is done. Again, also, the purchasers discover a hiatus in the interior arrangement of the globe, and there is much weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth, But the meddlesome police, in' the person of Detective Grace, get bold of the stories of Mr Bay's misfortunes, and of Mr Alexander's loans to him. and all the rest of these pretty little utories, and they put Mr Bay into durance vile, and charge him with doing what is against the peace of our Lady the Queen, her crown and dignity, whereat the surprised indignation of the unfortunate Mr Bay is a thing to be remembered. But the finish, so far, had better be told in the orthodox way as follows:— At the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr Turnbull, KM., Harold Bay was charged with defraudiug Samuel Caruell of 15s. Accused wan represented by Mr Sheath. .Sergeant Cullen applied for a remaud till Mouday next. Mr Sheath did nab object, but applied that accused might be roleased on bail, Sergeant Cullen opposed the request, and stated that If it were granted the