of Con-Men

Tahiti’s Prince of Con-Men

ONFIDENCE men usually do not aspire to the priesthood, but there actually has been a case it in Tahiti. The true facts have ly recently been revealed, h 1954, a man calling himself ;count Pierre de Moulieres de augrand, landed in Papeete, irmed with an imposing collection letters and documents, many of ;m on Vatican Secretariat letter ids, he called on the Bishop of sanie. Amongst the documents imitted to the Bishop was one ling upon him to ordain the irer a priest. The letter certified it the bearer had finished his dies in a Catholic seminary.

The “Viscount” was duly ordained and for three years carried out the duties of a priest in various districts of Tahiti. During this time he did not let the grass grow under his feet, but collected from the faithful gifts of money and even land.

However, this was not enough, and finally he over-reached himself by applying to the local gendarmerie for a pension, stating that he was a lieutenant of reserve in the French Army.

The gendarmerie sent to France for his dossier so as to establish pension rights, and to the surprise of everybody, word came back that tne “Viscount” was an imposter.

He has been charged with just about everything in the book.

Trace of the gentleman has been found in Noumea. It is believed that

he spent 6 months in the barracks there in 1946. At that period his name was Demoutieres.

Dr. C. Maszaros, eye-specialist of Lae, New Guinea, returned recently of ter being on leave since March.

During his absence, people with eye trouble had to fly to Moresby for attention.