“THREE NICE MEN”

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, Issue 17, 4 January 1927, Page 6

“THREE NICE MEN”

AND THEIR RACING SCHEME. VICTIM NEARLY CAUGHT. Sydney, Dec. 14. An interesting story relating on the one hand to a merchant from the East, and on the other, to two clever travellers and a young Australian, is told by Inspector Pattinson. who is temporarily in charge of the C. 1.8. during the absence of Superintendent Mankey. A well-known Sydney business man brought about the first interview Mr. Pattinson had with the merchant, who became suspicious, after he reached Sydney, of actions of three men whom he met at a leading city hotel. While the Easterner was on his way to Australia he met on the steamer a Sydney business man, who warned him to be careful of the “confidence crowd.” It was this, warning, remembered’at the moment of writing a cheque for £5OO, that caused the merchant to postpone carrying out his part part of a suggested deal in racing. Calling at the C. 1.8. the merchant explained to an official that he had been followed from hi s hotel by one of three men who had been in his company on the previous day. A racing matter was mentioned. I he merchant said that one evening, some weeks ago, he was sitting in the lounge-room of one of the big hotels, where he was staying, when a stranger engaged him in con. versation. They talked on ordinary business matters of the East, America. England, and the Continent, and then horse-racing was discussed.

STAYED HIS HAND.

A tale of operations on a racecourse in America was told to the merchant, and the “clean-up” was mentioned as having been about £lOO,OOO.

The next day the visitor from the East was met and introduced to two other men. Dinner and theatre parties were arranged, and some women were asked to join the party. But these proposed social functions did not happen owing to the failure ct certain plans. There was a scheme, and the merchant was told of it. He and three companions were to back a horse for £5OO each, to win a big race. Three cheques had keen made out. and the merchant had commenced writing his signature when he remembered the warning of his Sydney friend a few weeks previously on the steamer, far away from Australia. Some clever police work followed. Men were interviewed. Fingerprints were taken, and these are being handled hy the experts at Scotland Yard (London), and by others in Washington (U.S.A.) Tn finishing his story the merchant remarked, “They were three nice men.” .