ALLEGED CASE OF FRAUD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7317, 29 July 1885, Page 3

ALLEGED CASE OF FRAUD.

It was a matter of common report yesterday (says Friday's Lyttelton Times) that a clever female swindler had recently been practising her arts here, and had most cruelly victimised a respectable lady. The police, it" is understood, have the matter in hand, and from inquiries made by one of our representatives, it appears that a woman who has been known to the police for .-nearly 18 years past, as .one of _ the cleverest professional swindlers in the Colony, had made representations to a clergyman of this city that she had been rendered almost destitute by being swindled out of some property. The Rev. gentleman believed her story, took pity on her, and introduced her to a respectable maiden lady, who took the woman to her own home. Once there, she ingratiated herself with her hostess, representing that she was a sister of a well-known coal proprietor at Greymouth, and that she had a- nephew on the West Coast possessed of immense property. This nephew was, it is alleged, a creation of the fertile brain of the female swindler, who made him serve her own ends to some purpose. She persuaded her hostess that this nephew was a very eligible young man for a husband. The lady received letters from the "nephew" which there is little doubt were concocted and written by the woman who was deceiving her. To cut a long story short, the nephew was accepted, and a marriage arranged; the deeds of a marriage settlement were prepared by a- solicitor in Christchurch, the happy day was named, the wedding trousseau purchased, and invitations issued to several persons holding good positions in the city to attend the ceremony, which was announced to take place on last Wednesday afternoon. But a little bird whispered that something was wrong, the suspicions of the maiden lady's friends were aroused, inquiries were instituted, and it was ascertained that a cruel swindle had been perpetrated. In the meantime the female swindler had done well out of the lady she was imposing upon—had been well kept, and obtained credit from various tradesmen. She had flashed about cheques in profusion, but the value of these documents is believed to be very doubtful, and she had imposed on other people by pretending to treat for large purchase of land. It may be remarked that many years ago the woman who is the subject of these remarks had lived for two years with a respectable lady in Christj church, who was all the time under the -delusion that her guest had a. large property coining to her. She is also well-known iii Timaru, where she had swindled several people. It may be as well to put the public on their guard as to this woman's mode of procedure. One of her common practices is to make tlie acquaintance of a person, and persuade him or her to keep her at his oilier house for a time. She then goes out into the country and sends telegrams addressed to herself, thus impressing her host with a notion of her importance. She is a stout old woman, with an innocent look, of bland manners and smooth speech, and often succeeds in ingratiating herself with fa.rmcrs, from whom she gets cheap living for months at a time.