A HOARY OLD TRICK

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 16 August 1924, Page 8

A HOARY OLD TRICK

RINGING THE CHANGES A charge of ringing, the changes was beard in Melbourne recently. Two men, Edward D. O’Connor and George Petersen, were charged with attempted larceny. They pleaded not guilty. John J. Clarke, motor mechanic, said that- the two men went- to his place- of business, and O’Connor tendered him a 10s note to pav Is, which he said he owed for petrol. Witness did not remember the transaction, but eventually took the shilling, giving 9s change. Petersen then said- to his companion, -“/Why take the man’s change?” Witness,’at Petersen’s request, handed him the 10s note. Petersen took the 9s frorh O’Cotinor, added a 2s piece to it, and offered the silver and the note to witness, saving, “Give me a pound '• for this.” Witness said that would be no good to him, as be already owned the 10s note. The two men then talked together for a few minutes, and O’Connor said. “That is right, give him back the 10s.’’ The two men .then left, and witness watched them cross the road and enter a lolly shop. From there they went- to a cafe. Witness went to the lolly shop, and from what he was told there he followed the two men tin-' til he saw a constable, when he gave them in charge. 1 After hearing the, police" evidence, the Bench announced they had decided to convict. Both men proved to have very bad records. They were each sentenced to three months’ imprisonment.