FRAUD ON MR. BERNARD SHAW.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144131, 28 June 1913, Page 5

FRAUD ON MR. BERNARD SHAW.

FORGED LETTER AND CHEQUE. Mr. George Bernard Shaw is stated to have boon tho victim of an impudent swindle last mouth, the suin’ involved being .£523. Mr, Shaw, however, declined to make any statement on the subject of publication. It is reported that one day last week a messenger hoy delivered an envelope at Mr. Shaw’s residence and stated that he had been told to wait for an answer. In this envelope was a letter purporting to come from Mr. F. W. Pcthick Lawrence, co-editor of “Votes for Women,” requesting that an enclosed crossed cheque for £520 payable to Mr. Pethick Lawrence might he exchanged for an open checino for the same amount, so that cash might he obtained forthwith. Mr. Shaw is familiar with Mr. Lawrence’s handwriting, and, believing the letter and cheque to bo genuine, lie drew an open cheque, which ho handed the messenger. It was subsequently found that this cheque had been presented at Mr. Shaw’s bank within a very short time of its having been drawn. Tho forged cheque was sent to tho bank a couple of days later, ami it was not until ‘lB hours after it had boon presented that the fraud was discovered. It was returned from a Tunbridge Wells hank with a formal notification that tho drawer,had no account. ML. Shaw, on learning this, at once communicated with Mr. Lawrence, who was found to be entirely ignorant of tho matter. Mr. Shaw has not. it is understood, reported tho matter to the police.