AN INGENIOUS SWINDLE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1151, 22 September 1883, Page 2

AN INGENIOUS SWINDLE.

A swindle was lately devised by an astute American rascal, the novelty and ingenuity of which are not to be denied. He set himself up as benefactor to a special class of men bank clerks and others who had robbed their employers. His story, as told in circulars discreetly addressed, after careful enquiry, was to the effect that a certain man who had committed a theft in early youth had subsequently grown rich. Remembering the agony that he had endured, and feeling that he was not grrMely culpable—he intended to return the money he stole, and would have done so only for extraordinary circumstances—he had left an immense fortune, part of which his heir, the sender of the circular, was to apply to the assistance of bank clerks who had sinned as he had done. Those to whom the documents were sent were invited to confess to the benevolent stranger's legatee, and he would enable them to make restitution of the money. Sad to say there were many answers to the circular, A number of clerks confessed to thefts, and made urgent appeals, with cordial expressions of gratitude for the prof erred assistance. Thereupon the swindler replied that he held their written oonfessions of guilt, and if they did not make it worth his while to hold his tongue, he would certainly disclose the matter to their employers. There was no escape; their own handwriting could be produced against them, and the chance was between bribing the black-mailer to keep their secrets, which involved fresh thefts, or being exposed. In the end he was caught, success having probably made him incautious in the sendout of the circulars ; but for a long time he made a handsome income out of the terror and foil/ of his victims.