CABLED FOR FUNDS.

Thames Star, Volume LXV, Issue 18240, 14 July 1931, Page 3

CABLED FOR FUNDS.

SUSPICIOUS MESSAGE. .1 Received by Brother. AUTHORITIES CONSULTED. POLICE STEP IN. (By Telegraph—Press Associations WELLINGTON, July 14 A cabled request for £3OOO from a remote part of America, received recently by Mr A. Coutts, of Wellington, from bis brother, Mr David Coutts, gave rise to anxiety concerning the latter and his wife, who recently left Wellington on a visit to America and Britain. Mr Coutts sailed for San Francisco by the Monowai in March last, and is a member of the carrying firm of Coutts Bros, and Hare, Ltd. Mr Coutts was amply provided with money. When his brother in Wellington received the cable message from a somewhat remote part of America to send £3OOO, he was nonplussed, and cabled back for confirmation. It duly came to hand, but, as Mr Coutts was so well provided for and the amount was so large, he was not satisfied that it was a genuine message. Strongly suspicious as to the origin of the message, Mr A. Coutts resolved to consult the authorities, and details of the whole matter, with the cables received, were placed before the police, but as it involved happenings in a foreign country, the Government had to be informed. Through the aid of the ConsulGeneral for America, communication was established with the police of the United States, and the mystery only appeared to deepen. There was some difficulty in tracing the sender of the cable, but it is said that when located he answered test questions quite correctly. The money was not sent, and no letter confirming the cable has yet been received.