LOST MONEY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 87, 13 April 1933, Page 8

LOST MONEY.

SHOWMAN CHARGED.

FARMER AND HORSE RACING.

CONFIDENCE TRICK ALLEGED.

(By TeTegraph.—Press Association.)

PALMERSTON N., Wednesday.

A remarkable story in which a Swiss farmer of Normanby, Jacob Rutteman, alleged that he was the victim of a confidence trick and induccd to''part with £450 was told in the Police Court to-day, wa shown"--, Tunnecliffe, appeared on three charges of conspiring with person unknown, and by deyejt obtaining from Rutteman, on April 19, 1932, sums of £100 and £10, and on April 23 the sum of £340.

Rutteman's evidence was to the effect that he met Tunnecliffe by chance on a train while going to Wellington on April 18. Tunnecliffe asked for his company in an adjacent seat, and talked racing. He said his name was Wallace, and that he had a racehorse en route to the Nelson races. "Not a Phar Lap." "I asked the horse's name," said Rutteman, "but the only reply I got was that it was not a Phar Lap, but still it was a horse." Witness added that accused induced him to cross to Nelson, where he handed over £100 to be put on Wallace's horse, Wallace claiming as an inducement that he recently made £2100 on the same horse through bookmakers. Witness also handed over £10 for a double on Landmark and Wallace's horse.

Witness said he returned to Wellington and was Induced to go to Hawera Jor more money. He drew out £70 and secured a cheque for £150, which was money owing to him. Then he proceeded to Palmerston North, where he met accused and his associates at a hotel. He listened to the results of races by wireless. Tunnecliffe entered the room, saying, "Sorry, Jacob, our money is lost." Accused added that it would be got back with other investments, and witness handed over the £70, with the £150, and a further cheque for £120, all to be put on .Wallace's horse running at Nelson on the second day. Accused Identified. Several days later, continued witness, he met accused in Wellington. Accused said something had happened to the horse and it could not run. Two days later witness went home. Witness said he was able to identify accused as the person he understood to be Wallace. Expert witnesses were called by the police to compare handwriting. Detective Russell stated that Tunnecliffe admitted using the name of Wallace at shows.

Accused was also charged a similar offence in respect of a retired hotelkeeper, William Drysdale, of Wairoa, the sum involved being £100. Drysdale said lie met accused, who invested money for him with success. Later witness was induced to part with £100 on the receipt by accused of a telegram purported to be signed by Hector Gray relating to a "sure thing" at the Takapuna races a day or two later.

Witness went to accused's home and asked for the cheque back, but he was told ho was mad. Witness sent a telegram to tlie bank stopping payment, but he received a reply that the cheque had already been cashed. Accused pleaded not guilty and was committed for trial.