YOUNG WOMAN'S SMART FRAUD

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 20115, 1 July 1914, Page 5

YOUNG WOMAN'S SMART FRAUD

CHRIST/CHURCH JEWELLER DUPED. PRESENTS TO BE PAID FOR BY AUNTIE AND UNCLE. ALLEGED CULPRIT ARRESTED. (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, June 30. A young woman was arrested this afternoon by Detectives Ward and Gibson on a charge of perpetrating a smart fraud yesterday on Messrs. \V. Watson and Co., jewellers, Colombo Street. Watson, it is alleged, was at his main" establishment when he was called to the telephone, and a female voice said she wes Mrs — (mentioning the name of a well-lvnown Ohristchurch Jady), . and she wished to 'make a present to her nice. Her niece would come to the branch shop in a few minutes, and would Watson see that she got a nice watch. Very shortly a young lady arrived at the shop in a smart motor-car with a chauffeur at tbe wheel. She was smartly dressed, and the shop assistant- feltno qualms in handing over to her a nice little gold watch ticketed at £7 10s., which " auntie" would pay for. Half an hour later the telephone rang again and onco more did Mrs. — give Watson another order. So delighted was her niece with tho watch that her uncle also desired to mpke her a presentation. Therefore she would come back' to tlm.jsh.op and select another article, which undo (Mr. —) would pay for, though the account must not Fo sent in before the 12th of the month. Again did the young j lady arrive at the branch shop, and l this time she selected a ring valued at £5 10s., and away in her motor-car sho departed again. _ Having an uneasy feeling, Watson this morning rang up the lady who;'e name had been given on the telephone, and learnt that neither she nor her husband had ever sent any niece or r.nybne else to Watson's shop. The matter was promptly put in the hands of the. police,, with th© result that the abovo-mentioned arrest was effected.