The morning call., 1892-04-01
LEIGHTON'S SWINDLE.
How He Beat the Drayman's
Hauling Charges.
The General Opinion Is That the Sugar Steal
Was His Only Transaction, and His
other Talk Buncombe.
Further DEVELOPMENTS in the history Of the

Further developments in the history Of the
swindling exploits of Leighton, the Aus
traian, are awaited with considerable in-
terest by the commercial men in the whole
sale business. 1t is evident that the case is
creating a sort Of nine days wonder and
this is enhanced by the fact that Steele d
Co. and Saroni. the vendor and purchaser
respectively of the sugar from Leighton,
not only refuse TO go into any detailed state
meIt, but by means CT little innuendOes in
siDuate that Leighton carried out other sue
cessful schemes here, in which he was
aided and abetted by residents in this city.
The Palace Hotel people deny having
purchased any whisky from Leighton or
that any whisky firm made Inquiries if he
had sold the hotel any spirits. Leighton
was absolutely only known to them as a
guest 1t was learned that leighton had
said that William Ireland, the wei-known
Califorra-street broker, was selling the
sugar bought from Steele & Co. for him and
CALL reporter stepped in TO see Mr.. Ire
land. That gentleman was out, but L.
Wavell. his manager, was seen and spoke
on the subject.
I'VE never did any business whatever for
The man Leighton" said he, lin fact we
couldn't have handled his sugar.
WHOLESALE GRoCERS.
wholesale grocers and others, who are under
bond to buy the whole of their sugar from
the Western Refinery, and in consequence
thereof they obtain reciprocal advantages.
They cannot therefore buy any outside lots
of sugar and such mer as Saroni and other
confectioners and candy-makerS are the
people who buy up these smaller quantities.
Leighton appeared smart young fellow,
and told me he was born in London and
educated at Rugby. His answers TO any
stnf.,
tory, and it IS ev dent that lie has lived in
that city. We did not take a great deal of
notice of his story, as we told him point
blank we could not do his business. George
Luther, the manager for Reed * Sullivan #
Front street, introduced HIM here, and | be-
lieve did the hauling of the sugar, for which
he was never paid. lie is consequently
very sore about it. leighton stated to me
that he brought the SUGAR from Hong
Kong and that 1t was lying at the Broad
way wharf That is all l know about the
matter.
Ge6rge Luther could not be found. but
the entry clerk told the following interesting
story of how Reed K Sullivan came to do the
hauling and then get beaten out Of their
charges.
VERY PLAUSIBLE.
leighton, who was very plausible man.
called here as perfect stranger and
asked Mr.. Luther if he could Introduce him
to n broker who could sell Let of sugar
which he lad brought from China and
lying at the Broadway wharf. He subse-
auently returned and said he had sold some
OF the sugar and ordered a team 10 deliver
| the same. lie said he wanted TO go along
| himself for the first load. Accordingly he
went along with the team toward Broadway
wharf. There he gave his orders to the
driver TO go to MariscanO's cannery on Bad
| terry street Six sacks of sugar were first
| taken to the Maison Tortoni restaurant On
| 0'Farrell street, and the whole of the re-
| mainder, SIS sacks, were delivered at Sar-
! onl's. Leighton returned later on and said
| that he had a let more sugar living at the
wharf and would want it hauled next day.
| Needless to say we never saw him again.
| He always gave US to understand that he
| was going TO act as agent for the Canadian
| Pacific Railroad and expected 10 give US a
| job Of hauling 1000 tons of iron rails in a
| few days"
Several other business men were seen, but
all were of opinion that the sugar transae-
tion vas the only deal Leighton got away
| with. They think his talk of deals in tin,
rails, hardware and other things mere bonn