STORY OF A £27,000 HEIR.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 September 1920, Page 5

STORY OF A £27,000 HEIR.

A FRAUDULENT NEW ZEALANDER. London, Aug. 20. A party of three women and two men from Lancashire, who found themselves stranded in Bristol without funds, have told the police of an alleged imposture. The women ,are sisters, one of whom, a Bolton mill girl, says that four months ago she met a plausible stranger, who claimed to be a New Zealand doctor, visiting England to collect a fortune of £27,000 left him by his uncle. The man, who gave the name of Ed- ! ward Haroourt, and produced "officiallooking" documents, finally persuaded ! the mill girl to marry him, and later,! she says, induced her sisters' husbands, one an engineer and the other a tramway car driver, to sell their homes, buy expensive outfits, including silk dresses for the women, and start for New Zealand. Harcourt was given £4OO to get first-clasß fares in the steamer Wiltshire, which Harcourt said was due to sail from Avonmouth Docks, Bristol. Going to Bristol, where the party stayed in an hotel in Victoria Street, Harcourt stated that he had got the post of ship's doctor and would go on board a. day in advance. At Bristol station, on the way to Avonmouth, Harcourt, the story goes, borrowed from one of his brothers-in-law a gold watch chain ■in place, of his own silver one, and to give him a "more promising appearance" Harcourt'6 shabby shoes were exchanged on the platform for the brother-in-law's new pair. When the party, which included a six month's old baby, reached Avonmouth next morning, Harcourt could not be found. The Wiltshire had sailed a week before, and the party found themselves left with a few shillings, homeless, end out of work. Friends were communicated wjth, and the party returned to Bolton, The police have issued the following official description of Harcourt:— "Edward Harcourt, 34, height sft 10 or llin., thin build, dark-haired, cleanshaven, of good address. Believed to be a native of New Zealand, When last seen was wearing a blue check suit, straw hat, and brown brogue shoes. Ho has a set of false teeth." The man wanted is stated to be a fairly good pianist and singer. Asked why he thought he was a doctor, one of the ; men said he always carried a case of instruments, and on or.e occasion when the baby was seized with a convulsion he treated it so skilfully that the father had no t'oubt he sav'cd