LATEST CONFIDENCE TRICK.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7377, 1 February 1902, Page 2 (Supplement)

LATEST CONFIDENCE TRICK.

HOW STRANGERS ARE DUPED.

A desperate struggle in a cab at Vic-toria-street, Westminster, Londo^i, on Saturday night, December 7, led' to the arrest of a burly Frenchman, called Qeorge Pierr.et, who was brought before Mr Horace Smith, at Westminster, charged with conspiracy with other foreigners, not in custody, and with stealing, by means of the confidence trick, a portmanteau and cash from Anthony Reef, a young Frenchman, who has been staying at Highbury Terrace, N.

Detective-Sergeant Jones said that for months past 'there had been complaints of young foreigners returning to the Continent being picked up by a gang of swindlers at Victoria and Charing Cross stations. It was in consequence of this that he (Jones) and another officer named Chatc were on duty at Victoria near fte&time of the departure of the Continental train on Saturday night. They saw prisoner accost the prosecutor, and then another foreigner, who escaped from custody, appeared on the scene.

Prosecutor described his experiences. He- said he was going to Newhaven when the prisoner came up, and, addressing him in French, asked him if he was proceeding to Paris, because, if so, they might,

AS FELLOW COUNTRYMEN, travel together. After some conversation, prisoner suggested that they should have some refreshment. They proceeded together to a short distance from the station, and witness was carrying his portmanteau, when another man .accosted them apologetically, saying that he was a Spaniard who could make himself understood in broken French. The strange gentleman in improving French mentioned that his uncle, the "Archbishop of Paris," had died, leaving him a legacy of 30,000 francs, with injunctions to distribute it among the poor of Paris, to which city he was proceeding. The companions of witness elicited that he had the equivalent o-f 350 francs about him, and on the pretence that he might be tired the stranger carried the bag. Prisoner suggested that the new arrival should display evidence of his wealth, and an envelope produced a pocketbook and anenvelope which he said was full of 1000 franc notes. Witness was prevailed upon to take charge of this envelope, and remained with one man whilst the other made a purchase at a cigar shop. Just

TO SHOW HIS CONFIDENCE in his companion he parted with his money and watch and chain, and left them to go himself to the cigar shop to change the cigar which prisoner said was not the right sort. On coining out of the shop he saw his "friends," who had entered a cab, struggling with men, whom he afterwards found to .be detee-» tives. Much agitated, he called out, "Let them go. Let them go. They are honest gentlemen." (Laughter.) One of them got away after a violent struggle, aj>d the prisoner was secured. Witness believed that a mistake had been made vn T til his envelope of "bank notes" was opened, and found to consist of. pieces of an evening newspaper.

Sergeant Jones said that in the struggle and confusion someone in the crowd forced into prosecutor's hands his purse and portmanteau. Prosecutor was so excited that he had to be taken to the station, where for the first time he realised that he had been duped. Mr Horace Smith hoped that the other man concerned would be arrested. Sergeant Jones: There are several other

cases. The prisoner was remanded In custody.