A £l0 NOTE.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 2775, 17 October 1923, Page 2

A £lo NOTE.

A CHANCE ACQUAINTANCE, AND A SMART CAPTURE. On Monday, a man named Vincent Charles Laird arrived in town from Rangotea, equipped with more than a few shillings. Whilst in the bar of a local hotel, he made the acquaintance of a smart-looking young man, who gave his name as "Nelly." Following a drink, a discussion took place over tho Wellington races, and "Nolly" remarked that ho was going down to the capital city, and would be prepared to execute any commissions for Laird. Innocently Laird, agreed to have a pound on a certain horse* and proceeded to obtain chango for a £lO note. The publican could not oblige, and "Nelly" volunteered to got it changed in a second. He then vanished with the noto. ' Realising that he had been duped, Laird communicated with ths police, and Constable McCall began a difficult investigation. Following a number of inquiries about the town, the constable at last obtained a clue at a local drapery establishment, the proprietor of whkft'had changed a £lO note for a man answering the description of "Nolly." This information helped somewhat, and visiting another hotel, tho constable ascertained that "Nelly" had-engaged a taxi to go to Palmerston North. Tho constable then decided to go to Palmerston North, and was fortunate in securing the taxi which had conveyed "Nelly" there. An investigation at the different- hotels in Palmerston North revealed the fact that a man named Neilson had booked a room in the Commercial Hotel, so the constable, after ascertaining that Neilson answered the description of the wanted man, waited round. Some time later, Neilson, alias "Nelly," appeared on the scene, and was promptly arrested and brought back to Feilding, where he appeared before Mr R. Burne JP, yesterday. The arrested man, whoso correct name is Alexander Hugh Nelson, was remanded, to appear boforo the Magistrate this morning.