"RINGING THE CHANGES."

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 72, 24 March 1906, Page 13

"RINGING THE CHANGES."

THE HALF-SOVEREIGN TRICK. James Winter, a middle-aged man. .was charged at thf Sydney Water Police Court with imposing upon James I_awre_ffce, a barman, to the extent of 9/0, on the 26th February, by means of a trick _ll.'d -rinsing the changes." Constable Holrlorf• said that he saw the accused standing at a tobacconist's shop on the evening of the 26th February. Just as be was about to enter the shop Holdorf arrested him. He held in his hand a halfpenny and a sovereign. When In the Cen- , tral Station, as he was being searched ' Ho-dorf saw him slip a half-sovereign on the seat, behind him. It was. the accused | said, bis own money. The property be held upon him consisted of 11/, seven sixpences, j three threepenny hits, four pennies. Aye ! packets of cigarette?, and two boxes of pills, ln addition to the gold. James Lawrence, a barman at the Star and Garter Hotel, King-street, said that accused came into the bar and threw down a half-sovereign on the counter in gayment for a drink. "Oh. don't change that." said he just as _ytness was about to put up the gold. "If you do the missus will take the change off mc." The half-sovereign was handed back. Accused said, "I thought 1 i had a shilling on mc. but I haven't. Never miud. Change mc the half-sovereign." He ■ put a coin in the hand of the barman, who gave him 9.8 in exchange. He left then hurriedly, and never touched the drink. Afterwards, on looking at the till, witness I fcund that he had been given a sixpence | instead of the half-sovereign. Sergeant Speuce drew tbe attention of | the court to the record of the accused. j Accused was committed for trial.