SWINDLED AT HOME

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 150, 28 June 1930, Page 23

SWINDLED AT HOME

SUM OF TEN THOUSAND A "RACING SYNDICATE" NEW ZEALAND VICTDI (From "Tin Post's" R«pr«s«ntatlvt.) LONDON, 16 th May. Troni the pages of "John Bull" one learns that still another New Zealander of wealth has fallen a victim to the confidence trickster and losi £10,000. This is the slory as told by the representative of "John Bull":— "The victim in this case ia a gentleman who arrived in this country only a few weeks ago on behalf of a largo New Zealand manufacturing firm of which he is the head. Taking apartments at a famous West End hotel, he mingled very little with the j othev guests, but in due course modo| the casual acquaintance of two men.; who were also staying at tho hotel. ,

"Those men—a Mr. ' Algernon Adams and a Mr. Kobert Eyan—appeared to be very prosperous, and the New Zealand visitor was particularlyimpressed by their retiring manner and tho fact that they had not the failing which so many big business men have of talking "shop." Although he did not realise it at the time, this selfeffacement was part of a cleverly preconceived plan of "passive" attack; they were waiting for him to inquire as to their profession. SECRET RACING* SYNDICATE. "The subject could not very well avoid cropping up before long, and when it did, both Mr. Adams and Mr. Kyan. very frankly admitted that they, had 'retired' from active business, a statement which seemed feasiblo enough in respect of the former at least, for he was grey-haired and venerable. Then, in a very confiding manner, they revealed the fact that they were at present associated with a secret racing syndicate which was controlling a certain betting system with exceptionally successful results. In recounting numerous interesting stories in this connection, they produced various documents relating to past transactions, but at no time did they make any suggestion that the visitor should participate in their profitable pastime. Indeed it was not until their acquaintanceship had ripened considerably that the subject cropped up again, and Mr. Adams and his friend condescended, as a mark of their esteem, to invest a sum of money on his behalf along with their own investments. "At. the next meeting the delighted New Zealander was'handed substantial ''winnings," and one or two subsequent investments made "as a favour" proved equally profitable. "One day Mr. Algernon Adams came in flush d with excitement to confide that he had brought off the biggest coup in the history of the syndicate, which would bring him in £61,200. By | the rules of tho syndicate, however,, he would bo required to show that he j had an equal sum behind him and to! give an undertaking to continue invest- j ing in the "pool" as long as tho,syn-j dicatc lasted. Unfortunately, the most ho could lay his hands on at the | moment was £40,000, and he would I thus have to let one- of his friends | come in for the' remaining £20.000.1 Would the New Zcalaiidcr care to participate" "Tho New Zealand declared that1 he would bo only too pleased, but he was afraid he could put up only &10,000 at the moment. j MONEY HANDED OVEK. j "That was a pity, commented Mr. Algernon Adams,- but ■in the circumstances he felt that he would prefer to

go to another and more intimate ofl his backers for the full £20,000 re» quired. "Mr. Eyan-intervened with the sng- | tion that he might let their .goo<s I friends have a look in with his £.10,----000 and then go to the • other backer for a similar amount. "After some deliberation, Mr. Adams condescended to do this. A! draft was cashed and the money handed over, an appointment being made for the following evening so that the deal could be further discussed. "To tho New Zealander's dismay, neither Mr. Algernon Adams nor Mr. Eobert Eyan kept this appointment^ and he has never set eyes pn them since "Of course, the secret racing syndicate was a myth, and the initial "profits" were sprats which the tricksters could well afford to thrown in ia view of the £10,000 mackerel they ultimately landed."