HAS LEARNED A LESSON.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 15 March 1926, Page 9

HAS LEARNED A LESSON.

BUT IT COST £250. CONFIDENCE TRICK. SYDNEY, Feb. 20. There is a foreigner in Sydney whose faith in human, nature lias been rudely’ shaken. He was the victim of one of the most remarkable confidence tricks ever played in Sydney. He has learnt the folly of trusting strangers, and has paid dearly, the lesson, costing him £250. ‘ . This is the story of his. experience that has been told‘to the police: A few days ago' a stranger approached the foreigner in a city street, and asked him if he was the son of a Mr. (mentioning a man’s name). The foreigner, who had never seen the man before, said he was the man, and the stranger slapped him on the hack and warmly shook his hand. WORTH £300,000. •‘l’ve been looking for you for years,*’ said the stranger. “Long ago your father did me a good turn. I have never forgotten it, and perhaps 1 might be able to repay you for wliat vour father did for me,’’ * Then he —very confidently —tolu the foreigner that since he had met bis father his luck had turned and that he had made his fortune in Queensland He mentioned that he was wortii £300,000. and said that it was too much for bis needs. “A® a matter of fact,” he remarked, “I am at present looking for the Aus trail an Archbishop. I want to give him £IOO,OOO to distribute to whatever charitable institutions he thinks fit.” His story was believed by the credo lous foreigner, and the pair parted after an appointment had been made for the following day. They met at the time arranged, and strolled towards a city park—confidence men always lead their victims to parks —and the foreigner’s new acquaintance began a homily on honesty. At this stage confidence man No. 2 entered. He walked over to the man in company with "the foreigner, and

the pair shook hands. He was introduced to the intended victim as a great friend of the wealthy man. The two began a. conversation on thrift, which ended in the rich man from Queensland giving his friend £250, because' lie believed him to be a thrifty person. This seemed won- • derful to the foreigner, who, when asked if lie were a thrifty person, pulled out his bank book. ‘‘That is no good to me,” said the rich man. “I cannot read or write. Bring along £25(1 to-morrow, and we’ll see what can be done.” , The foreigner met the two again, . and the rich man, after placing £250 - in notes in a handkerchief, asked the , foreigner to do the same. The foreigner was told that the money would be wrapped in a handkerchief ’ and given to him (the foreigner) to mind the following day, when they , would meet again. The stranger said he wanted to do this to see if the . foreigner could he trusted. ' “QUICKNESS OF THE HAND ” ' Confidence man No. 2 said he wanted to be “in this,” and he too, placed £250 in notes in. the handkerchief. 1 lie foreigner, greatly impressed, placed hie £250 in the handkerchief, and while one of the men was talking earnestly to him. the other securely tied the money in the handkerchief. The parcel was placed in a pocket inside the foreigner’s coat. “Now, if you turn up here tomorrow at 'll o’clock we’ll know you le holiest,” said one of the men to the foreigner as the three parted. The foreigner “turned up” next day. The others did not. He waited a long .while, and marvelled . that his friends had not come hack for their monev. He thought over the mattei all the day, but it was not until late that night that he decided to untie the handkerchief. . . He did not find £750 nestling inside it. He found a tightly-rolled newspaper.