FAKED HIS DEATH
YOUNG MAN’S FRAUD RELATIVES VICTIMISED (Pier. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Received Deo. 29. 3 p.m.) YANtYrVER. Dee. 28. John Harold Rutledge, 27, faked his own death and collected £2400 from sympathetic relatives and friends, but the police ’caught him as lie tried to leave the country, and he was sentenced to live years’ imprisonment. Ho. took modest lodgings in Vancouver, described himself as a salesman, and then began sending sad telegraphic mesnges to eastern Canada, signing himself “Erie Vanburen.” He telegraphed : “Harold Rutledge died here to-night in agony, calling for you and his mother to the end. Send me money to bring his body east for burial.” ’Unfortunately for lliu scheme the relatives got together after sending money and realised that they had sent sufficient cash to bury Harold a dozen times over. The police quickly established that. Rutledge was alive and well at least- two days after the supposed- body was sent away for burial, and lie was •easily traced after that.
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Bibliographic details
Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17452, 29 December 1930, Page 11
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166FAKED HIS DEATH Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17452, 29 December 1930, Page 11
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