AFRAID TO REFUSE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 10, 22 December 1932, Page 13

AFRAID TO REFUSE

CHINESE VICTIM. London, Nov. 11. 'A Chinese doctor, who is on a visit to London, Is the latest victim of confidence tricksters. Two men, one posing as an Irishman and the other as a New Zealander, became acquainted with the doctor, who is staying at a West End hotel. When the friendship had developed the old story relating to the disbursement of a' fortune was introduced. After the doctor had parted with £lOO his “friends” disappeared. Scotland Yard officers are now searching for them. The victimised visitor gave the “Daily Mail” the accompanying outline of the procedure employed:— “While I was walking through the West End a man made my acquaintance by asking the way to Africa House, saying he was a South African. He talked to me a lot, and we exchanged cards. He called at my hotel, and at his suggestion we went to Botten Bow. While there the man asked me many things about my private affairs, and by a ruse gained some idea of how much money I had with me in London.

“He learnt that T went out to breakfast at a certain time. A few days later a man stopped me as I was going to breakfast and asked me where he could get a meal. I told him of the place where 1 went myself, and he joined me. He said he was a New Zealander.

“He suggested that we should go to the Mint, and on the way some keys fell on the pavement. They belonged to neither of us, and we spoke to a third man who was passing. “The keys, he said, belonged to him,

and after thanking me he asked us to go to a cafe with him. We went there, and the man, who said he was bn Irishman, told me how he was going to distribute some money to the poor. He wanted us to help him. “The New Zealander went out saying he was going to draw some money from the bank to show the Irishman. The Irishman then talked to me a lot, and told me he wanted me to show him some money. I knew that he was trying to rob me in some way, but I was frightened, as he was a big man. I went with him to the American Express Company, where I drew £lOO and handed it over to him. I did not complain to anyone, as I was frightened of this man. I thought he might have a revolver with him.

“The man went away, and said he would come back. I haven’t seen him again, but I didn’t expect to.”