SPORTING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9653, 19 November 1913, Page 2

SPORTING.

THE MKEHOIHNK COP

THE CROOKS' HARVEST;

\\ li»"it the Melbourne Cup is approaching the underworld ii astir. An army of crooks rather in Melbourne and it i* so large that (ho most -experienced dot<ictivee are gathered from every Australian capital into Melbourne for a fortnight. No inter-Slat* Iran? entbra the city at iliis time unwatched by poHcomcn. Thin is a historic meetirtg-placc for crooks during early No vcmbcr. The experienced man and wo man can pick up a targe percentage of crooks, oion and women, at Flemington and in Melbourne streets during the racing season. Most, look as prosperous as the moderately wealthy. But their taste is on the sho\\\ r-idc i'tid I hey show their trade •by their faces. Most of them are known to the Sydney. Brisbane. Melbourne, Adelaide, or Perth detectives.

The tactics of sharpers have not changed tiuch of late, but new methods to relievo unsuspecting people of their cash are being introduced. The hotel barber is still the most common of the sneak thieves. Every guest is warned against him in Melbourne hotels at Cup time. The "rich uncle from Fiji" in also still in great demand. The trick is reserved almost exclusively for country |>eople, who pour large sums of money into Melbourne at this senson. The police complain that human nature is not improving. It i? still eoft enough to bo hurt by the old, glowing story of the rich plantation in Fiji, and the generous uncle who owns it, or has just s..ld it. The country mind is still apt to idolise the prosperous, philanthropic business man who has a great scheme for getting rich quick and wants to put his friends on to it. It believes the subtle dootrine taught by these sswiniNers—"Fortune* are to be made by men not afraid tospeo utate." These sharpers keep dangerously within the law. and the detectives sa'v they are finding it, harder than eve r to get cases against them. ONE OF THE NEW TRICKS. A sad tale was unfolded to the Adelaide police a few days ago by a passenger bound Westward on a steamer. Being fairlv.prosperous he Ixioked a first saloon berth, and his story was that an hour before sailing time an affable stranger, whom he presumed was also a passenger, .entered into conversation with him. Five minutes later the talkative one suddenly rememjhred that In; had an important business engagement on. shore.

"Come up town with me. old' man," suggested the apparently worried forgetful person. "I'll want somebody to help me through to keep the cab waiting, and so an." Suspecting nothing, and being goodnatured enough to help another out of a difficulty, the passenger consented. A cab was hired, and ordered full speed to a big city office. Arrived ihere the stranger entered, only to emerge about ton minute* iater, looking more worried than ever. "Have we time to drive to the bank?" he enquired. With an air of extreme embarrassment the swindler explained that all ;ie had on him was a £SO note; all his loose cash had been left on the boat. Still more embarrassed he wanted to know if : iis "friend" could advance him £2O in fold until they returned, as it was essential hat he should have the money to complete his business. Nothing loth, the passenger produced the necessary,' and with hurried and piofuso thanks the borrower dashed into the office. That was the last -•■ en of him. He evidently chared away hrough the back entrance." Sad and delected, the ready lender .returned to the steamer five minutes before the gangway vas raised, and he still .mourns the loss of ug hard-earned £2O. *A simple swindle, out one that has done yeoman service to ■he crook late!v.

For the benefit of those desirous of radung m< , noy a f ter |. one6t niot ) lods havo tailed another little/scheme, practised with •access in Melbourne, is here unfolded. About 3 o clock in the afternoon the crook presents at a bank a cheque, purporting o be from a person in West Australia. )f course it is net, honoured until the bank receives word that, it is genuine, but a receipt is handed to the swindler for the amount, say £2OOO, and on paper he is worth that sum on the authority of the >ank. On the strength of the receipt he • isits jewellers and other keepers of small ait exjK-nsive trifles and purchases valua)les to a big amount, providing that the msmess people aro trusting enough to mSSU? your cllo( l«<> to be paid out of the LcUjO supposed to be in your credit. Then ie disappears to parts unknown and realscs on his haul and reflects upon the iptumsm of human nature, and dodges ths >.>!iee until the affair has blown over Some girls badly want to get married. tUiy ii is so iv unknown, but, thc fact ronains nevertheless. Here is another chance rpr the crook. He advertises for a wife, describing himself as a man of means and onsequentlv wishes his future partlor t0 nave a little capital to >P.uare the deal. Eagerly and vith visions of matrimonial bliss before 'cr, a.girl replies to the advertisement. The' ;.tnuing bridegroom is of good appearance harming manners, and altogether a model jusband in embryo. Eventually the day is ixed, and a few days before the hapnv went a deposit has to be paid on a house kvhich is t 0 be the future dwelling of thc ove-stricken young woman and her wellbeloved. On tho grounds that his money if .omporanly tied up, the male accomplice, to he ceremony persuades his wife-to-be to "raw her money from the bank to enable um to pay the deposit, and settle up about .lie furniture, or some other plausible excuse is advanced. The result is a brokenteartcd angry woman, left lamenting the ■S3 of her gold, while the rogue who robbed ler is well away, probably in Sydney, spendng her cash m a nunrter becoming a gentlenan. One girl over there was recently de.rauded of £350 in this manner. The moral •o the fair sex is obvious: Trust not any nan until you know 'him through and through, if ever you will. Although thousands of pounds must be extracted from the pockets of visitors to Melbourne at Cup time bv the mobsmen. t is rarely that reports are made to police 'lead-quarters regarding the incidents. Some men are "sports." and take their loss with a hrug ot the shoulders, and laugh at the cleverness of a man smarter than themselves; others, fearing ridicule and goodnatured chaff from friends, maintain a discreet silence as to the way they were duped.