RETURN OF IMPOSTOR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20024, 14 August 1928, Page 10

RETURN OF IMPOSTOR.

GUNTER ARRIVING TO-DAY.

PASSENGER BY THE MARAMA. STORY OF MANY HOAXES. DEPORTATION FROM SYDNEY. No restriction is to bo placed by the Customs Department on the landing in Auckland to-day of Robert William Gun? ter, who has been deported from Sydney following his imprisonment for six months on a charge of false pretences. The Auckland customs office has bee- 1 advised to this effect by the head office in Wellington. Gunter, who is an Englishman, has a police record in New Zealand, and imposed on several people before leaving for Sydney last February. The attitude of the Auckland police as to the landing of. Gunter has not been divulged. Superintendent W. G. Wohlmatin said yesterday advice had been received of Gunter's deportation, but he had no statement to make regarding police intentions. "Something may develop in a day or two," ho said. There is an order against Gunter to "come up for sentence when called upon," but Mr. ,Wohlmann said this would not be exercised merely on account of his deportation, but would be remembered in case of further misbehaviour. Questioned as to Gunter's suggested further deportation to England, Mr. Wohlmann said no advice had been received to this effect. Gunter is well known to the Auckland police. Ho is said to have arrived in New Zealand as a kitchen-hand on the lonic. Of good education, bo is spoken of as possessing a most plausible manner. From what is known of his career in Auckland it is evident ho moved in the best circles and lived by his own ingenuity.

. . Adventures ( in Australia. Gunter first came before the Police Court in Auckland in April, 1927, when lie was sentenced to a term of imprisonment for obtaining money by falsely representing he was Surgeon-Commander Joy, of the Royal Navy. He was released early last January, but' had not been free ji week before ho again appeared in Court on a charge of vagrancy. On consideration of his being taken in hand by Captain Davies, of the Salvation Army, he was dealt with leniently. On February 4, Gunter left Auckland for Sydney. There he posed as "consulting engineer of the London General Omnibus Company." Investigation made by the Sydney police resulted in a charge against him of false representation. He served six months in prison on this charge. When his term expired a few weeks ago he was ordered to be deported to New Zealand. Opinions of the Police. Senior-Sergeant Cummings/ of the 'Auckland police, when chief detective, referred to Gunter as "the greatest parasite New Zealand has ever known." This : view is endorsed -by police officials who know his history, and it is certainly borne ; out by his various "hoaxes." Soon after his' arrival in New Zealand he registered at one of the principal city hotels as "Sir Robert Gunter, White's Club, London." Invited to the house of the . manager of a well-known motor firm he disappeared, along with £l, in his host's absence.

During the first part of his Auckland stay Gunter appears to have patronised the best hotels, later moving to city boarding houses. He also stayed at Rotorua and Hamilton hotels. The majority of his accounts sit these places are still unpaid. He posed at one time as. "Dr. Gunter," and it is stated he stole a -stethoscope to keep up appearances. Needless to say. a certain amount of money was necessary to keep up this mode of living, and some few people in Auckland have had cause to regret their acquaintanceship with him.