"MEN WERE DECEIVERS EVER."

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXXVII, Issue 11743, 20 September 1902, Page 5

"MEN WERE DECEIVERS EVER."

NELSON, September 19.

A sensation was caused in the city yesterday afternoon by a report of a murder and suicide. It turned out to be nothing serious, but yet of interest. For some time an individual has been in Nelson professing to come with a lucrative appointment under engagement in connection with certain lecal works of magnitude. He lured a house for six months, and arranged for furniture. He also hired traps, and became engaged to a, young lady, who on the strength of the coming marriage resigned her situation, and even went the length of planting trees and shrubs at the new home. Yesterday, however, her near relatives, who had heard something, went to the suburb and demanded more bona fides from the intending bridegroom, an asked explanations. Certain allegations were made to the effect that he was a married man seeking a divorce from his wife, and had re ceived rations from the Charitable Aid Board in the form of an order for three days on a local boardinghouse, where he remained three weeks. When confronted, the man put his hand in his pocket and drew out something metallic, which scared the qusetioners, who communicated with the police.

A constable went out and arrested the man, but found him in possession of only a bicycle spanner with a knob resembling a pistol. The man was therefore i-eleased.

The marriage, of course, has been uoav broken off, and much sympathy has been expressed witli the young lady, but also congratulations on her escape.

The mail was known as a previously doubtful cliaracter, and all his statements as to lucrative appointment have been proved baseless.