ATTEMPTED FRAUD.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4488, 16 October 1901, Page 5

ATTEMPTED FRAUD.

Special to the “Times.” AUCKLAND. October 15. The "Star 1 ’ publishes the following: On Friday last a young man walked into a hotel at Parnell and asked for a drink. In conversation, he told the licensee that he was Sergeant Hardham, V.CI, of Wellington, the first New Zealand recipient of the Victoria Cross. The licensee expressed great'pleasure at his visitor’s gallantry, and by-and-by the hero left, re. turning a little later with a well-known Parnell resident, who introduced him to the landlord akSergeant Hardham. Later the stranger presented the licensee with an explosive bullet as used by the Boers. That gentleman, however, still had his doubts, and asked his visitor where he got hia V.C. "At Modder river, with Methuen," -was the reply. The licensee said he did not know that New Zealanders were over at Modder river with Methuen. “Oh. it was"at Naauwport,” was the reply. His questioner then said that these places were some distance apart, and on the alleged Hardham being brought before a map he was unable to find either place, a fact which strengthened his host’s suspicions. The stranger then said that ho was a despatch rider, hut hia-host remembered that Sergeant Hardham was a farrier. It is alleged that a Parnell tradesman advanced a sum of 'money to "Hardham, V.C/’ on the strength of a xheque, and that this hero borrowed a suit of clothes from a 'Parnell tailor. So completely did he take in the Parnell people that a well known resident brought him to the Orpheus Club on Saturday night and introduced him as "Sergeant Hardham. V.C." There he was received with great enthusiasm. The chairman toasted ’him in a glowing speech, and the assembly sang "Rule Britannia" and “God Save the King’’ in his honour. The hero of the evening responded with a modesty which seemed to be fully in keeping with his bravery. So thoroughly did ho impress his hosts that a member of the club, a traveller for a local brewery, went to the trouble to entertain him yesterday by showing him round his firm's establishment. In the course of conversation he is said to have announced that his cross would be 'pro sented to him on Saturday next at Auckland, and to have expressed his sympathy with the Wellington people in the disappointment they would certainly show when-they heard that the presentation was not to take place in their city. Needless to say, the discovery that this man is not the real Hardham, V.C.. has caused some excitement. One gentleman had made an appointment with him at half-past nine this morning, when the alleged Hardham has promised to give him some mementoes of the war, but at the time appointed the impostor was in another place, and did not keep his appoint ment. .The "Star" adds that Farrier. Ser. geant Hardham is at present in Wood, ville, and has not been in Auckland since his return from South Africa. Among the Police Court items this morning appears ithe following:—"A young man named William Crawford, alias Archibald J. McNeil, alias Crombie. alias Palmer, appeared to answer a charge that he did obtain £2 from Frank Wren and £ 5, from Charles James Lakev by false pretence; that at Wellington he did desert from H.M.B, Mildura. Mr Reed, 'for the defence, pleaded not guilty on all charges. At the request of counsel, a remand was granted until Monday next. Bail was allowed in accused’s own surety of .£4OO and two sureties of JB2OO each. Sergeant Hendry, who represented the police, said it was probable other charges would be preferred against accused.”