An ingenious hoax played on a newspaper editor was unfolded at the police Court before the Fifth Presidency Magistrate to-day [in Bombay, February 8] when Mrs. Blanche Braganza, an Anglo-Indian woman, stood charged with cheating in respect of Rs. 500 about the middle of December last. The accused called at the office of the’Bombay Chronicle’ and interviewed Mr. B.G. Horniman, Editor. In her interview she related the harrowing tale regarding six destitute children who she said were thrown on her. She asked Mr. Horniman to raise a fund and induced him to insert an appeal in the ‘Chronicle’ on the 22nd December for funds. Her object, she said, was to send four girls and two boys to school. The appeal was published and a sum of Rs. 100 was first sent by an Indian on the 23rd December. Subsequently the fund increased to Rs. 750, contributions including Rs. 50 from her Excellency Lady Willingdon. She then one day went to Mr. Horniman and informed him that she had arranged for the children to be taken to Taylors High School, Poona, and asked for Rs. 500 for expenses. Mr. Horniman paid her two sums of Rs. 250 each, but afterwards he discovered that he was cheated. He then informed the C.I.D. who after investigation arrested her.
