GUNTER NOW A GONER

NZ Truth, Issue 1199, 22 November 1928, Page 9

GUNTER NOW A GONER

Bound for England, He Left New Zealand A Sadder And A Wiser, If Not A Better Man

"TRUTH" MADE THIS COUNTRY TOO HOT FOR HIM

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Special DIDING at anchor on the blue waters of the roadstead, a Home boat was making' final preparations for its long journey to the other side of the world. Ashore, the last party of passengers were embarking on the launch which was to convey them to the steamer put m the bay. Among them was one Robert William Gunter, prince of impostors and con. man, ignominiously making his exit from the country. No pennants were flying —

DERHAPS no more contumacious I individual than Gunter has ever ■ visited these shores. Certain it is that he will not be missed. After his early exploits m New Zealand he went to Australia, served a term of imprisonment- there and was "wished" back on 'this country again. Then it was that Gunter professed a desire to live a decent life, but his very attitude condemned him. Recent issues of this paper have warned the public what sort of a man they could expect m Gunter, who has posed at various times as a Sir and a doctor, and blames this paper for his inability to make a living by his unscrupulous methods. "Truth" had made it too hot for him, he said, shortly before leaving. Something of the man's chagrin may be gleaned from the fact that prior to his departure, Gunter remarked: "Why! If a man pinches £50 the whole Island rocks with it." The game was too risky for him here, he complained. The immaculate Gunter wanted to go to America to exploit new fields, but there were obstacles m that connection which his ingenuity could not surmount. A Bold "Knight" Then he turned his activities m the direction of obtaining employment on the- R.M.S. Makura. Perhaps he thought, that, camouflaged as a steward, he could slip ashore when the immigration authorities were "batting the other eye." ■ Willing hands will be ready to extend him a welcome when he steps ashore at Southampton, and for that reason it is safe to assume that Gunter, at the first opportunity, will "make a break" for Uncle Sam's domains. Gunter, "Truth" readers will remember, chose recently to descend on Wellington with enough titles m his pocket to make Debrett's spin round on its axis. "Truth's" inquiries as to the authenticity of some of these interesting ancestors and distinguished descendants, seem tb have made things " 'ard, damn 'ard'' for Gunter. Tailoring shops lost their willingness to slice their best tweeds into suits which "Sir William Hunter, c/o Hotel Midland," will pay for later on; and the best boarding-houses became less anxious

Dressed Up —

to reserve their best suites for "my man and me." Gunter was still as ready, even anxious as ever, up to a few days ago, to buy Wellington a drink — the catch m the cocktail to be expounded later o n — b v t affluent gentlemen have been curiously lacking m thirst m his company. Neither mouths nor moneyboxes have been so open recently as of yore. * During his last visit to Wellington money was tight and Gunter offered his services as a dishwasher on board a ship, When "Dr." or "Sir Wi. 1--lii\ m " Gunter (whichever one likes to call him) made a hurried visit to the scene of his early New Zealand activities, Auckland, posing under one of his many aliases (Dr. Hunter this time), he introduced himself to a woman wh o was foolish enough to accompany him to Hamilton. ■Gunter is a versatile gentleman, and. his streak of; plausibility is by no means unde^ v c 1 op c d. With this woman Gunter booked at one of the leading Hamilton hotels, but what thought or anticipation he had of an i-njoya'ile evening was promptly and ruthlessly swept aside by the intrusion of two

Wellington Representative.) — or drums beating 1 as Gunter said farewell to New Zealand at Napier last Saturday week. He boarded the "Ruahine" a few hours before the ship sailed for Southampton, glad to shake from his heels the dust of a country that had given him such a poor reception. Gone then, is the more or less debonair and gay young man who put it over sundry people m the Dominion.

gentlemen on behalf of the lady's husband. In consequence Gunter has added another achievement to his already long list of accomplishments — he has been cited as corespondent m a pending divorce suit. The papers were served on hint prior to his departure on the "Ruahine." From there Gunter went to Palmerston North and the police gave him four hours to get out of the town. They preferred his room to his company. Gunter, nothing loath, caught the train and journeyed to Master-ton; but there again ill-luck dogged him. An enquiring and zealous police officer gave him the nod and told him to " move o n." Gunter caught the first conveyance back to Wellington — just three days before he finally said goodbye to these shores. Gunter's trip north must have been a profitable one, for he was well supplied with cash when he booked at one of the leading Wellington hotels. His remaining hours m the capital wore typical of the man. A braggart ever, he spent each night at a different hostelry, proprietors

being unwilling to keep under their roofs a man with such a record as he had. | In various places Gunter openly flourished the papers citingr him as corespondent. It meant nothing to him, especially as he was planning a quiet get-away. In one hotel, Gunter, with his characteristic fluency of speech, entered into' conversation with an habitue of the bar — reputedly a shrewd head and a bookmaker. Always looking 1 for easy money, Gunter tossed this individual for £ 1 and when the man lost after calling "heads." he promptly increased the bet to £5. The stranger's call this time was "tails," but again he lost. The slick gentleman from Easy Street had adopted the satisfactory expedient of providing himself with a double-headed penny and a double-tailed penny. Whichever way the call went, he was bound to win. Gunter's new-found betting com-r panion must have "smelled a rat." for an argument ensued and the immaculate confidence man, eye-glass and all, received a, rather unexpected jolt under the chin, his precious With Eye Glass monocle gaily careering across the barroom floor. Timely intervention saved Gunter from further slaughter.' To his deliverer, this rascal, who has seen the inside of many prisons, offered his thanks and an explanation of how the coins fell his way. ' "No, boy, I don't take any risks," he said, when later showing the pennies for inspection. "It's a saf,e bet either way." "Dr." Gunter will be at a slight disadvantage without his eye-gla3s. After the penny-tossing episode it remained on the floor till discovered by other hands than Gunter's. ■ This foppish appendage of the "doctor" is now iined up among other curiosities on a •shelf m "N.Z. Truth's" office. The distorted lens through which Guntor viewed New Zealand m an equally distorted light will no doubt be missed by its owner. Possibly he will be able to see the straighter for it. Wlio knows? ; " " As a third-class passenger on board the "Ruahine," and with his passport safely tucked away m aii inner pocket, "Sir Robert" William Gunter no doubt will wait with what patience he can muster • until the ship reaches her destination to enable him once again to enjoy his peculiar talents on shore. . No tears of regret at his going have been shed. by the authorities.

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