AN ACCOMPLISHED SWINDLER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5553, 26 February 1886, Page 3

AN ACCOMPLISHED SWINDLER.

! Thedetectivesinthecityandanburbs^ays the Age) have been very anxious for some days past to obtain the address of a "young' gentleman" who has favoured a number of the business houses with a very liberal patronage, and it appears that their anxiety was relieved yesterday when Constable Callander, of the Hotham police, effected the arrest of a young man of decidedly gentlemanly appearance and address, who gave the name of Ueorge Anderson, and described himself as an ironmonger, aged 23 years. Anderson was arrested at the Boundary Hotel, Hotham, where he has been residing for the past few days. At present the principal charge amongst a number for which it is alleged he willhave to answer, is one for obtaining a diamond bracelet and ring, valued at £63, from Messrs Young and Co., of Collinß street, by means of false pretences. He paid for these articles, it is stated, by cheque purporting to be Bigned by Messrs M'liean Brothers and Bigg. The latter firm, however, had neither given him tile documont, nor authorised him to draw it. On the day he made the purchase he pawned the bracelet in the city, while the ring was found in his possession on his arrest. This transaction is said to head a lengthy list of swindles, in which smaller amounts are involved, inoludißg purchases made in various drapery ana other establishments in Hotham. Anderson is supposed to be a new arrival in Melbourne, but is said to be well-known to the South Australian police. There are a miinber of warrants issued against a man hitherto unknown to the Melbourne police, but it appears that the officers to whom these warrants were entrusted, Oil interviewing Anderson, found that h« answered in every particular the description supplied for their truidnnw.