A DETECTIVE'S "JOKE."

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVI, Issue 227, 29 September 1902, Page 2

A DETECTIVE'S "JOKE."

A certain acting detective in the Cape Police District, one Maxwell Mullalue, is in danger of Gilding out that his particular form of joking is attended with unpleasant consequences. A month or two ago, inspired perhaps by the success of a Canadian man in a similar enterprise, he inserted the following advertisement in the Cape Times : —" Don't miss this chance. Send at once! "No man should be without one of these beautiful and unique books, containing the secrets of the ancient world. Securely packed, under cover. Post price, 3s.—Continental Publishing Company, P.O. Box 1,122." This sort of thing apparently appeals to some minds, and the advertiser received numerous orders for the book, which, no doubt to the intense surprise of the recipients, proved to be a penny New Testament. In consequence of the nature of the advertisement, another detective wrote under assumed names for two copies of the book. Possibly because the advertiser recognised his brother officer's handwriting, tho books were not supplied. In their place came a letter which must have told the detective that his artifice had been seen through. After regretting that, owing to the unprecedented demand, for the books, and the limited stocks, the Company had sold out all copies on band, the writer continued : " Nearly everybody in Capetown must have a copy. Our Mr Spoofman, who attends to this particular branch of our business, has gone to Jerusalem, whence this ancient work emanated, to obtain a fresh supply. He will return by the Cape to Cairo railway, to develop the trade in Central Africa. It will, therefore, be some time before we can fulfil your esteemed orders. We have communicated with our Durban agents, the V.M.C.A., who may have a dozen copies left. The only other place where we can possibly obtain them is the British and Foreign Bible Society Depot, at Ujiji." The Post Office orders had been destroyed, but the numbered portions were returned, so. that tbo sender could collect the sums from the Post Office. Malialue was, therefore, arrested on a charge of fraud. In giving evidence, he declared that his primary object in entering into the business was to see whether any of the members of his department would answer the advertisement; it was all *'a bit of fun." He admitted that it had been rather a costly joke, for his expenses had been about £7, and his receipts under £4, only twenty-six people having applied for the book. He had been in the police force for some years, but as he could see nothing illegal in what he had done, his knowledge of the law was more rudimentary than that of the average policeman. His assertion that ho would have returned the money sent him for the books if the purchasers had asked for it, did not save him from being committed for trial. At the same time, no one will feel any sympathy for the joker's victims.