New Zealander Who BEAT THE TRICKSTERS

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 280, 26 November 1938, Page 9 (Supplement)

New Zealander Who BEAT THE TRICKSTERS

" pVEN if they lose you win,'* I-* was alleged at Clerlcenwell, London, to have been the bait hrld out to a New Zealand visitor when he was asked to jojn in a scheme for making money on "horses." Tho "infallible" betting system ruined his suspicions. He went to the police, and detectives in tho lounge of a. hotol listened to a conversation which took place as he handed over an envclopo mado up as though it contuined £150. Two men. Charles Wolfe. f>s, and his ■ 'in, Henry Wolfe, 20, travellers, both of Streatham Hill, Streatham, London, stood in the dock whilo Mr. Vernon Kattie, prosecuting, outlined what he termed their alleged confidcnco trick. They wore charged with having been concerned together in attempting to steal £150 from tho New Zealander,

Alfred Clyde Boswell, whose home is in Taranaki, by means of a trick. Both pleaded not guilty.

Mr. Boswell told how when he and bis wife were in Southampton How, Henry Wolfe approached them and asked the way to a certain hotel. He volunteered tho information that he was a Canadian, and that his name was Jimmy Graham.

"He said he was at a loose end, the same as wo wcie, and that he would come with us if we had no objection," declared Boswell. There were further meetings, and they each showed the other letters of credit whereby they obtained their money. "There was a good deal of conversation relating to racing and betting on horses," added Mr. Boswell.

Later, Henry Wolfe introduced Charles Wolfe as Charles Graham, his uncle, and they arranged to have lunch together in Cheaps ide.

"Before going there," commented Mr. Boswell, "I called at Gray's Inn Road

Police station and was piven certain advice. After lunch the conversation again turned to racing.

"Charles Graham," Mr. Boswell continued, "offered to put some money on a horse for me in such n way that if it won I would win about £25, and if it lost I should still will about £5. He tried to tell me how it was done, but it was so complicated that I could not see through it.

"It appeared that they would back :i horse at, say, four to one, a few days before the race, and then they would turn round and back it at lower orlrls to lose, so that Peter paid Paul, or something."

The first time declared Mr. Boswell. he was told that £5 would be puit on for him, but that they did not want any money. Next day the younger man sairl that the horse had lost, but he had won £;).

On a subsequent occasion Charles Graham suggested that they should have some money on J'aach in the St. Leger

"lie said, 'J suppose you would like to will your passage money back to New Zealand,' " continued Mr. Boswell. "Ife told met lie couiil win X.'UIO for me, and that I could not possibly lose, whether the horse won or Inst. "I was asked for £1.10, but I said I had not got the money with me. Tho younger man said he would lend me the money. "lie went to a tourist office nearlv opposite and came back with what appeared to be a bundle of notes, which lie handed to the other man. I was '.o pet £!■>(• trom the bank the next day and pay it over. "We met next day at a hotel in Southampton Kow. 1 had seen the police again. and handed the younger man an envelope containing pieces of paper. " 1 he elder Graham "grabbed it and tore it open," declared Mr. Boswell. "When he saw what, was in it he pot very angry, and said: 'Von have been to the police' He threw it in my face. On leaving the hotel the men were arrested." Mr. Boswell admitted that when he wnt to the police ho whs shown a number of photographs, and pointed out both men.

"iou were interested in their svstom ?" suggested Mr. T. W. I;icket ts, "defending. "if you could get money for nothing it appealed to you';"'

Mr. Unswcll: I should say so! Both moil wore remanded 'mi bail,