AN EXTRAORDINARY CASE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 8089, 9 February 1887, Page 6

AN EXTRAORDINARY CASE.

(Per s.s. Tarawera, via the Bluff.) [Bt Telegraph.] LFBOM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] INVERCARGILL, Feb. 8. An extraordinary case of alleged fraud was recently unfolded in the Melbourne Police Court, when Charles August Smyth, an elderly man, who has, among other avocations, filled that of a local preacher, was charged with having obtained various sums, amounting to .£3700, by false representations from Thomas Eetallick. The prosecutor deposed that he came to Victoria in June, 1885. He had been a farmer in England, and brought out about _ JJSOOO with him. He was separated from his wife, but had left her ample means of support. A person who passed as his wife caue out with him. On arrival in Melbourne, he went at once to the Victoria Coffee Palace. That night he went into the sitting-room, and saw several gentlemen playing cards. The prisoner was there also, and witness was pleased to see he did not play cards, although requested to do so. He considered Smyth was apparently a thinking man, and he was seized with a desire to know him. A few seconds afterwards Smyth was going out of the room, and witness said, “ I would like to have a few minutes' talk with you.” • Smyth replied that he would be very pleased, and sat down by witness, who said, “I have just landed from a long and rough voyage, and have buried a little boy, five years old, at sea.” Smyth, sympathising with him, replied, “We don’t see things here that we will hereafter.” Witness then made a confidant of Smyth, and told him that he had brought out .£SOOO, with which he wished to buy a farm and work. He asked Smyth where would be the best place to place the money until an opportunity occurred to invest it. By Smyth's advice, witness placed the money in the English, Scottish, and Australian Chartered Bank at five per cent for twelve months. Soon after, witness found the Coffee Palace too expensive and went to lodgings. When he had been there a few days, Smyth came and asked him to go to a missionary meeting in Nortn Melbourne. Witness was only too glad to do so, feeling grateful he had met a Godly, upright man. When Smyth insisted upon placing a shilling in the plate as usual, he contributed half a sovereign. They went often to meetings. Smyth told witness he intended bringing his family and capital from Sydney and taking a house. Until the family arrived, witness and the prisoner occupied that house. They had prayers regularly every night, and from Smyth’s conversation, witness believed him to be a truly Godly man. Witness would not have had dealings with him had he known him to be a worldly man. Smyth* r stated about this time that he had come out to New Zealand seven years ago with ill 1,000, nnd that he owned property in New Zealand, and also at Ascot Vale. Whilst they were living together, Smyth borrowed £2OO from witness. When Mrs Smyth arrived from Sydney, witness and family went to live at a place in Gordon Park, which he had bought, and he went to work at 8s per day at a quarry. Several days later Smyth sent for him, and asked him to meet him at the Post-office next day and bring a cheque book. They met accordingly, and Smyth, pretending to read from a letter which he had just received, said that £2OOO which he had entrusted to a firm of Sydney solicitors to invest had been lent on mortgage at 7 J per cent. Notwithstanding this he had written to have the money returned, as he wanted to purchase a fruit business. He suggested that witness should take over the mortgage, and he agreed. Smyth said he wanted £BOO, and as witness was too much under Smyth’s thumb to refuse, he wrote out a cheque for that amount. At this stage the case was adjourned for a week, accused being admitted to bail in £3OO, and his own recognisances of £SOO.