“MAJOR’S” DINNERS

Taranaki Daily News, 14 November 1934, Page 5

“MAJOR’S” DINNERS

LONDON HOTELS VICTIMISED. WARRANT FOR ARREST ISSUED. The “major” who recently duped a number of London hotel proprietors by arranging impressive regimental reunion dinners which never took place has gone one better.

This person is beHeved to be the man who victimised a famous West End restaurant by arranging an elaborate dinner for a party of 16, in payment for which he gave a spurious cheque. The man, who described himself as a “major” and was of small but distinguished appearance, called at the restaurant early in the day and arranged for the dinner. He chose a tasteful and expensive menu, and included food and wines to suit, he said, the palates of his friends. \

In the evening tire “major” and his. 15 friends arrived, and enjoyed the dinner. Then he found that he had forgotten to bring sufficient money to meet the considerable bill. His conversation and manner, together with an impressive address in the country, enabled him. to par- . suade the proprietor of the restautant to take a cheque as payment for the meal. Then the “major’s” cheque was dishonoured, and repeated attempts to get into touch with him failed. A warrant for his arrest followed.

The “major,” in his previous escapade?, has engaged restaurants at famous West End hotels for guests numbering between 200 and 300. He has described these dinners as reunions of members of a well-known regiment, and, after choosing the menus and making arrangements, for these dinners, has usually persuaded each proprietor to cash a cheque for him.