Brighouse & Rastrick Gazette. — 1890-01-25 (Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England)

ADVENTURES OF AN AUSTRIAN.  The Birmingham Mail recently published a mantas tire of the curious adventures of an Austrian in the Midland centre. The same paper now states that 10 days before the report appeared the same man had disappeared mysteriously from Birmingham, but he turned up in Liverpool, and his adventures there were of a similar remarkable character. On the 2nd instant, a stylishly-dressed individual, having a foreign accent, called at a tobacconist's shop in St. John's-lane, Liverpool, and purchased some cigars. In conversation with the young lady engaged in the establishment, he spoke of his being a stranger in that city, and explained that he possessed large estates in America. Next day he called again, and after a lengthy conversation, proposed marriage. The young lady mentioned the affair to her parents, who are of the Jewish persuasion, and her father desired naturally to see the strange wooer. The mysterious individual was introduced to the girl's parents, and told them a plausible tale of his vast estates, besides displaying what appeared to be a number of real diamonds. The girl's father, not being fully convinced as to the trustw, q-tiliness of the stranger's professions desired proof, whereupon a long story of immense possessions was given and an offer made by the visitor to take the father to London in order to interview the Chief Habbi,e ho was a great friend of his. The proposed journey was to have taken place last Wednesday, but on the morning of that day the supposed millionaire was taken suddenly ill at his lodgings in Mount Pleasant, and the affair was postponed. It seems that he obtained these lodgings after he had called upon a tobacconist in Ranelagh - street, to whom he repeated the usual tale of his vast possessions, winding up with a proposal of marriage to the shopkeeper's daughter. This unsuspecting gentleman took a particular interest in the visitor owing to the latter telling him a long story of his (the tobacconist's) relatives who were in Australia and America, but how the caller came into possession of this information is at present a mystery. This gentleman, learning that the visitor required quiet lodgings, strongly objecting to go to a public hotel, recommended him to his friend in Mount Pleasant. By the time of his avowed illness the police had the matter in hand. Communication was made with the Birmingham police, who, however, replied that they were not disposed to take proceedings against the man. This conclusion was evidently arrived at on the ground that the young ladies whom he duped in Birmingham occupying a good social position, are somewhat reluctant to allow the affair to be made public. On Monday afternoon Detective-inspector 13oyes, of the Liverpool police,visited the house in Mount Pleasant at which the man was staying, and was shewn into the parlour, where the stranger lay in a bed, which had been specially brought down from tFe bedroom for his convenience. He subsequently admitted that the accusations were correct. He stated that he had suffered sunstroke some five years ago, and that at times when ill he was not accountable for Ms actions, His only possessions were two extra coats and a portmanteau in which were, he stated, all his valuables. The detective, on searching the trunk, found that the bundle of " precious stones" was nothing more than a parcel of printing type wrapped up, while the diamonds proved to be "dummies," composed of glass and paste. As an instance of the man's audacity, it may be mentioned that during the illness lie drew up a will in favour of his landlady as follows, the spelling being of an exceedingly poor character : " I am Josef Deutsch, and lease my whole property for Mrs. --, a cheque on Rotterdam for 21,000d01., diamonds worth 12,000d01.' gold ring worth 8,000d01., American money 40dol.—everything belonging to Mrs. --. (Signed Josef Deutsch, Chicago citizen, Liverpool.' On the other side of the half sheet of notepaper was written "Josef Deutsch,last will and testament, leave for Mrs. --." American papers were found in his possession, shewing that he was a naturalised aubjece of the States but bearing the name of Stefan Pisa, the date being August 9th, 1889.  A man named Rawkins, aged 80, the rate collector for the tiandown (Isle of Wight) Local Board, has committed suicide. He had been discharged for incompetency, but was offered the post of assistant-collector, The other day he was called upon to hand over all books and moneys in his possession, after 26 years' service. He took the matter' 'very much to heart, and during the absence of the clerk he hanged himself from a balustrade.in the town hall: