GOT THE CASH.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 563, 17 September 1932, Page 9

GOT THE CASH.

Young Man Posed as Army Officer. FRAUDS IN AUCKLAND. ( Special to the ** Star.’*) AUCKLAND, September 17. Considerable daring was shown by a young man who succeeded in cashing valueless cheques in the city-. Describing himself as a captain in the Imperial Forces, he obtained £25 in money and a quantity of new clothes. The cheques were cashed on Monday and he has not been seen since. Shortly after the liner Mariposa arrived at Auckland from San Francisco on Monday a man entered the lobby of a leading Auckland hotel, and going to the reception desk, said he wished to book a room for a fairly long stay. Genuine passengers from the ship were arriving at the time. In signing the hotel register he appended the rank of captain to his name and gave his place of residence as London. He had some light luggage with him, and bis appearance, speech, and manner were said to be fully in keeping with the position which he gave himself. The visitor was shown to his room and later lunched at the hotel. In the afternoon he went to the office and informed the reception clerk that he would be away for the night, but would be returning at seven o’clock next morning. He then asked if he could have a cheque cashed, and made out a cheque for £25. receiving the money in notes. The visitor then left the hotel. Later in the day the suspicions of the manager were aroused, but when he attempted to enter the room booked by the visitor he found the door locked. A member of the hotel staff entered the room by climbing through the window of an adjoining apartment and walking along the fire escape. However, , when he entered he found the room empty except for a quantity of paper wrappings and boxes bearing the label of a well known city firm of tailors and outfitters. Subsequent enquiries proved that the man had visited the firm’s shop in Queen Street during the day and had ordered a considerable quantity of clothing, tendering a cheque in payment, and asking that the goods should be delivered to his hotel. This cheque and that cashed at the hotel both proved to be valueless. It is believed that the man has left Auckland for Sydney.