A Clever Rogue.

Lake County Press, Issue 693, 30 January 1896, Page 2

A Clever Rogue.

A man, who has been canvassing the Lpkes district, under the name, cf Johnson, on behalf of a firm he styled “ The Chicago Photo. Enlargement Co., of Wellington, Dunedin, and Sydney,” for enlargement of photographs with frame for 10s, getting in each case a deposit of 5s for the photo,, has succeeded, we learn, in taking about 60 orders in Queenstown. Not being satisfied with this, however, he went in for the enlargement of. a cheque. Having received an. order from Mr Daniel M'Bride fpr six enlargements and a cheque for one pound ten shillings, which he manipulated into £4O 10s by converting the “one” into “forty,” he presented the. cheque at the Bank, and he received payment for £4O 10s. The forgery was not discovered until Tuesday, morning after the Ben Lomond had,left for Kingston with Johnson on hoard. A wire . was sent instructing tho captain of the Ben to detain the man and bring, him back. Acting oa instructions, the captain told the man he would have to take him, bac.k to Queenstown. The man.said it was alright, and made some excuse to go into the hotel for a.minute. The captain ..has not seen him since, and it is supposed he must hove gone out of the back of the hotel,, and.made for the bush. Constable Jpnes went to Kingston yesterday morning, , and. as yet no news has arrived-of hia arrest. Whether the firm, he is supposed- to. represent is a bogus one, and whether those who have paid their 5s are victims as well, we have yft to learn. This should be a warning to those in the habit of giving cheques to put the words and figures as plain as. possible.