A Smart Female Swindler.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4702, 26 May 1883, Page 3

A Smart Female Swindler.

The false pretenoos by which the woman Alice Carlyle obtained " goods to the value of £2 8s 6d" from Ihomas Austin, were characterised by Inspector Pender, in Court on Friday, as " tho cleverest he had heard of for Borne time." The operations in question certainly wore conducted with a good deal of smartness. The fair deceiver called at the shop of Mr Austin, a draper in Victoria street, and represented that Mibs Atkinson, who kept a fanov goods establishment on the opposite side of the street, was particularly anxious to see a certain jaoket whioh formed a portion of the draper's stook. Mr Austin suspected that there might perhaps be something wrong, and said that he wauld send the jaoket over by one of his errand boys. Miss Oarlyle rather objected to this, and pleaded that she had received ordors from Mies Atkinson to bring the jaoket to her at once. Mr Austin, however, was obdurate, and,°having paoked up a couple of jackets, sent them to the fancy goods shop by one of his messengers. The deceivor contrived to meet the messenger at the door of the shop, took charge of the parcel, and carried it within, telling Miss Atkinson that she wished to leave it there for a few minutes. She then returned to Mr Austin and told him that Mies Atkinson was much pleased with the jacket, and would keep it. On being told that there were two jackets in the paokage, she said that she would go and see which one was to be kept. Having returned to Miss Atkinson's, she chose the one whioh suited her best, and took back the other. Then, taking possession of the jaoket so cleverly, if dishonestly obtained, the departed, and, Qfl has been already Btated, managed to get clear away from the Province before she was caught. It is satisfactory to know that she is now sorving a sentenoe of six weeks' imprisonment for her conduct.