“SPANISH PRISONER” PLEA

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 27 September 1933, Page 8

“SPANISH PRISONER” PLEA

CONFIDENCE TRICK REAPPEARS

LETTER SENT TO HELLENSYILLE The old confidence trick known as the “Spanish prisoner” continues to inspire someone with hopes of obtaining easy money. A resident of Helensville tliis week received a. copy of ihe familiar letter, which has turned up in all parts of the world in the comae of very many years., and has to run- ted it to tfie “Ne\v. Zealand Herald.” The; letter, indifferently spoiled and punctuated, is as follows: Dear Sir,—Being imprisoned lierc by bankruptcy. I beseech you to help me to obtain a sum of 2,790,009 francs' I have in Switzerland being necessary to come here to raise the seizure of my luggage paying to the register of the Court the expenses c-f my trial and recover my portmanteau containing a secret pocket- where 1 have hidden three checks payable to bearer for that sum. “As rcivard I will give up to you t»he third part-, viz., 900,4-14' Swiss francs. 1 cannot receive- your answer in prison, but you can forward a. cablegram to a person of my confidence, who will delivers jt me addressed as.below. Awaiting your answer to instruct you all my .secret, I only sign. . .” There follows what purports to 1 e an initial and then a postscript: “First of all answer by cable, not by letter.” An address in Spain is at the foot ot the letter.

There is no doubt that a cablegram sent as directed would evoke a further request, thus time for a, definite sum of money. \Tlio “prisoner”- would doubtless find many obstacles placed in the way of his recovering the portmanteau. and still further requests- for money would be made. The. recipient of tha letter states he believes the ruse is not well known in New Zealand and possibly recipients of similar letters mav be duped.