THE CONFIDENCE TRICK.

Press, Volume L, Issue 8476, 6 May 1893, Page 9

THE CONFIDENCE TRICK.

THE MELBOURNE SPIELERS' WORK, EXTRAORDINARY CASE OF FRAUD. .On the Ist of April last we published, an account supplied by our special correspond denb in Melbourne, of the robbery framaman named Wallace of over £300 by three youugmehwhi* practised upon him a form of confidence brick. We have just learned the facte of a-similar case, and it ia more thau probable that both robberies were the work of the same gang. In each case tha victim was a "young man from the country,-*' and not overburdened with common sense aud prudence. The facts of |he case are somewiiat as follows: — A man whom we will call Patrick Ryan had been working, on a station iv Victoria, about eigaty miles from Melbourne, for fourteen or fifteen ytars, and had saved between £300aud£4u0, about half of which he had ban tied iv the Fust Office Savings Bank, aud the remainder in the Mel'oourue Saviugs Uank. Desiring a chauge, he went down io Melbourne ; but as lie hud never been b-youd tne nearest little up-couutiy township in his life, he was quite ignorant •I the \says oi the world iv a cay like Melbourne, tie put up at a coffee palace in fe'oluhs r street on Saturday, the Ist of Feb-; ruary. On the Monday he had occasion to go tv the Melbourne fcaviugs iiank, and on coming out lie was met oy a gentleman whom, for cuveuience sake, /we will call ".No. I.'"' Kyau sttbsccrueutry niet two others, but as ne remembers the name ot ouly one, it will be easiest to designate them by numbers. No. 1 got into conversation with Ryan, obtained his history, and asked liim if he had ever been in New Zealand. Ryan replied that he had not, bub that he would like to go there as he had been long enough, iv Australia. No 1 said that he knew two' squatters in Melbourne who were-going over, by the s.s. Taiuneonihe4th,onewas taking over sheep and the obtter horses, and perhaps he could get empioymenb from one of them. Ryan aud No. 1 weut to the bheatre that evening, and No. 1 said he would introduce him to one of the squatters next day. The following morniug a well dressed young man appeared on the scene and was introduced to Ryan as the squatter who was going to taste the sheep to Now Zealand. No. 1 recommended Ryan as a man suitable to assist him.with the sheep, but: No. 2 said that he was very sorry, but the Taluue was full up aud he could not get his sheep on board und would have to waib for another steamer. He would, however, recommend him to his friend who was going over with bhe horses, and if he could not employ him he (No. 2) would give him a billet ou Ins station till ready to go with the sheep, in reply to No: 1, No. 2 said his friend was staying at a hotel, and mentioned the name of a good house. __ _X 2 thou Jfifi and Ryau saw no more, ol .him. i ,OnJ;he. Wednesday morning N6/1 and Ryan went to the hotel to,see No. 3, the:foruier going inside to make inquiries for him, wuile rtyau waited.oubside. No. 2 returned aud said No. 3 was not in, bub had left a message to the effect that lie would bs at the Post (jtUbe next morning. Ryan that day -drew £150 out of the (Melbourne Savings' Bank and next morning wenb with No. 1 to meet No.. 3' at' the Post Office. No. 3 was another swell who put ou a lob of style, refused'-to engage Ryan wibhout references, snd said tha|t he had partly engaged a mail on his brother's 1 ' station to go over with the horses. J Svriich were in Hobart. After a lot of demur No. 3 agreed to engage Ryan for twelve mouths ac 303 a weet. and found with a rise Oi 10s a week at the end of that time if he suited. He was to work on the station in the Auckland Province, They all then went to the Melbourne Coffee Palace where an agreementwas drawn up, and it was to be signed at Hobart before starting for New .Zealand with the horses. No. 3 then went away, telling Ryan to meet hhh ab 10.30 a.m. next day just before the ialune sailed from tue wharf. In company with No. 1 Ryau then went to the Post Office Savings Bank and drew oub the remainder of his money, and he then had £303 12s in cash in ttis possession. Next morning he weut down bo bhe wharf where he met No. 3, who asked him if he had everything ready. Ryau said he had to pack his clothes, and that he must go the Bank as he wished to send his money Over instead of carrying it. "No. 3 remarked that there was not much, time, and as he was going to the Bank to remit £1000 bo New ZeaFand he would also pay Ryan's amount in. Ryan agreed to thab course, as he did nob know much aboub banking affairs, and handed No. 3 the £303. He then went for his clothes, and on his return he met No. 3 on the wharf, who handed him an ordinary Bank deposit slip from the Union Bank of Australia, filled in with a statement of the cash paid in and signed by a name purporting to be thab of teller of the Bank. No. 3 said, *'There is the draft for your money; take great care of it, and when, you get to New Zealand you will receive your money ab the Bank. They will only charge you 5s for each £100 as exchange." Ryan went on board the steamer, having taken a steerage passage, the amount for which was to be refunded to him on arrival in New Zealand. He saw No. 3 on board among the saloon passengers, and as he was a bau sailor he went below, and did not come ou deck again until the steamer reached Hobart. On making enquiries Ryan could not find any trace of No" 3 among the passengers, nor could he find the auctioneer who was supposed to have the horses. He, however, came on to New Zealand, being quite uususpicious still, bub gave -up all; idea of the 30s a week job, us lie had not signed the agreement as-stipulated in Hobart. Ryan: landed in Lyttelton, and subsequently he went bo the,- s Union Bank of Australia bo. draw his money, hut the officials refused"to have anything to do with his deposit slip as it was irregular. Ryan then went to the Bank of New* Zealand and gave instructions for the money to be collected from Melbourne.', |In bj|ie course of a few weeks he was informe- ithab the deposit slip/ was. valueless, and was advised to see the police. We understand- the polioe .have taken the matter-in hand, and wuT-eonv* muuicabe wibh the police in Melbourne. Ryan gob work for a time in ; the Methven district, and he is now iv the neighbourhood of Christchureh.