SPANISH TREASURE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 65, 12 March 1912, Page 8

SPANISH TREASURE.

LETTLO.II 1-TIO.M A SPANISH I'ili.SON. A HU3IOIIOI S .MISTAKE. /An attempt to work tho “Spanish treasure” trick has just been made on tho North Island Brewery, Mangataiuoka. The swindle, says tho Pahiatua “Herald,” takes the form of a letter written from a Spanish prison in which the writer claims to he tbe distant relative of the addressee, and promises in return lor a little prompt monetary help a shard in a fortune that is lying in safe deposit. In the ipresent instance, however, the “try on” is not witnout its humorous side, the letter, though written in good English, being addressed to “Mr N. 1. .Brewery, Mangatainoka, Wellington, Now Zealand.” The writer nas evidently mistaken the name “N.. 1. Brewery” for that of an individual, and ho has made the letter suit, ns a perusal shows. The letter bears tho Paris and Madrid postmarks.

In the first sentence tho writer states that inis dead mother, “Mis Mary Brewery,” was a near kinsman, and that on the reply to the letter depended the acquisition of a great fortune that is the future of his onlv daughter, 14 years of age, who is placed in a boarding school. Tho writer narrates that he was a faithful servant of tho King of Portugal up to the time of tho King’s deposition. .According to him King Manuel was good enough to give him £IOOO in Bank si England notes as a reward for hi'o. services, and with that and £B3OO, he lied to Paris and on to London, where lie placed his fortune in safe deposit, getting a warrant payable to bearer, which lie placed in a secret drawer cl a trunk made for the purpose. On returning to Spain for his daughter, proceeds the writer, ho was cast into prison and his trunk wavs seized. A priest took pity on his case and agreed to assist him to secure his fortune. Ho asks “Mr N. I. Brewery” to aid the priest and become the protector of his daughter until her marriage.

In return “Mr Brewery” is modestly promised one-fourth of the fortune. The letter is signed, “Eduardo Blareo Brewery.” A postscript is added as follows: “I beg of you not to register year letter in order to avoid the attention of anybody.” It is also requested that the reply be placed inside a second envelope, the outer one to lie addressed to Spain, Provincia do Madrid, Sr. Don Fernando Gauden en San Martin do Yaldeiglesias. Needless to say the letter has net produced the reply anticipated. ! The swindle is apparently trying to be worked elsewhere' in■tho Dominion. An exchange states that a similar letter was recently received by Mr Robert Hunter, a sheep farmer of North Canterbury. In the letter lo Mr Hunt Cliche same tale is told, the difference being that Mr Hunter is to receive one-third of the fortune instead of onefourth, and the signature is “Eduardo Blanco Hunter.”