TAKEN DOWN

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 138, 15 June 1927, Page 23

TAKEN DOWN

3YDENHAM GROCERS

CLEVER CRIMINALS

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.") CHEISTCHUHCU, This Day. A clever trap was prepared recently for a Sydcnham grocer. Two men entered the shop. One, who appeared to be a labouring type, wont to one end of the counter and made a small cash purchase. The other was a well dressed stranger; lie made ' some purchases at the far end of the counter, and tendored in payment a cheque for So on which was the signature "Owen Moore." The assistant, who was not entitled to take cheques in such circumstances, referred the cheque to the proprietor, mentioning the name of the alleged drawer. The labouring man then entered into the affairs. v "owen Moore, did you say?" he remarked. 1 wish I had his money; I used to work for him." That statement removed any doubts, and tho cheque was cashed, substantial change being given; but as events have shown the name of the alleged drawer of the cheque is not kiiown at the bank.

In another <inatanco the man approached and chatted for half an hour with a storekeeper. Ho gaid he war, short of cash, but had a cheque for £5 Irom his employer, "Owen Mooro." He asked if the storekeeper couia advance iji to enable him to go. to the city as security he would leave the cheque and call .back for the balance of the change. 'He suggested that if the storekeeper doubted his cheque hf could ring up- the man whose signature purported to'be ttereon. The storekeeper did not attempt to do this. -there js no Owen Mooro on' the telephone list as it turns Jut, but ho loft to see if he could verify the cheque elsewhere. The 'atranger waited for him, and while he wag thus engaged he chatted with a policeman on the-foot-path. When the storekeeper returned he paid the stranger £2, although he had been unablo to verify the cheque. He is still waiting for the stranger to return, and ho has the cheque on which the bank has inscribed ''no account.-"' Kcither he nor the police has been able to discover any "Owen Moore."