CONFIDENCE TRICK

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 236, 4 September 1929, Page 2

CONFIDENCE TRICK

NEW ZEALAND VICTIM. OVER £7OO IN BANK NOTES. A small paragraph appeared in the English newspapers at the end of July telling how a visitor to London was relieved of £740 by means of an old story. No name was mentioned on this occasion, but the full story was told at a place where visiting New Zealanders meet, for the victim was a New Zealander (writes a London correspondent). Mr Blank—his name need not be mentioned—had a conversation with his solicitors before he left New Zealand. The subject of “crooks” was brought up, and the solicitor confidently asserted that his client could never be tricked. Mr Blank was a man of the world, who had his wits about him. Mr Blank came to London and put up at an hotel near Victoria station. He fell into conversation one evening with a well dressed stranger, who talked knowingly about Australia. During the next day they continued the acquaintance and Mr Blank, among other things, explained exactly how he would hand over to the police any rogues who tried to lead him on to part with his money. An appointment was made for next morning for 11.15 outside Westminster Cathedral. Mr Blank was not anxious to meet the man again, but he went along at 11.15. The stranger did not turn up at the time appointed. Several times’ Mr Blank was on the point of going, but he remained until 11.45, when the stranger put in an appearance, with humble apologies ancl excuses. In the light of subsequent events, it was obvious that the stranger was W'atching his victim from some vantage ! point to ascertain if Mr Blank had a friend in the neighbourhood. THE VERY FERVENT “WORSHIPPER.” The two went inside Westminster Cathedral, where the stranger expatiated on the beauty of the mosaic work and the amount of money that had been spent and was still to be spent on the decorations of the walls. Presently they came to a man praying fervently before an altar. The stranger loitered in the vicinity of the worshipper and made facetious remarks about his earnestness. Mr Blank pushed his friend onward, but the latter still lingered. Then the worshipper arose and moved away. The stranger suddenly pointed to a rosary that had been left. Mr Blank hastened after the third man and returned the rosary. Now this third person almost fell upon Mr Blank’s neck, so overwhelmed was he with gratitude. The rosary, he said, was a gift from his dead mother, and it had been blessed by the Pope. Would they both come out and have coffee with him P . There appears to have been no originality about the rogues’ methods. The third man told the old tale about having large sums of money to distribute in charity. He was looking for trustworthy men to do it for him, who would receive a commission But the men he chose must show that they had .substantial means themselves. In the end Mr Blank w'ent to his bank with his new friends and drew out £740 in five pound Bank of England notes. These lie handed over, and the smart, wrelldressed men melted away and were never seen again. All this ’had been 'done in the interval between 12 o’clock and 2.30. “THEY MESMERISED ME.” “I do not know what happened,” said Mr Blank, in telling the story of his downfall. They simply mesmerised me. I cannot tell you how they did it, but when it came to proving my financial position I was eager and ready to hand over the money.” Mr Blank went to the police immediately. One of the questions they asked was: Had he mentioned when he intended to return to New Zealand ? Yes, he had. “Then,” said the police, “the men would simply disappear and lie low for three months until Mr Blank had gone. They -would pass the notes through several Continental banks. Though the police might know exactly who the men were who had carried out the trick, Mr Blank would be on the high seas or back in New Zealand, and there was no chance then of bringing evidence against them.” So the old trick, convincingly played, has found another New Zealand victim.