TEE CONFIDENCE THICK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8610, 4 July 1891, Page 2 (Supplement)

TEE CONFIDENCE THICK.

Turks well-dressed men, who gave the games *of John Green, William Dunn, and Henry Hoi borough, were recently ohftrg«<V at the Westminster Police Court, London, with being concerned together in stealing, by means of the confidence trick, from: Mr, Calvin A. Whyland, an American gentleman, staying at the Hotel Motropole, a gold watch, a cold chain, a diamond locket, 35 in Bank of England notes, and 45 dollars in American paper money, the total value of the money and property being about, £114. The prosecutor, who spoke with a marked American accent, described ! himself as a merchant, and said he was at present on a visit of pleasure to London. Mr. Shiel (the magistrate): I should have thought. American would be smarter than to get into a. mesa like this. (Laughter). The prosecutor continued that on Friday afternoon he was inspecting the sculptures in the British Museum when he was spoken to by the prisoner Green, who describod himaelf as an American, and euggeated that they should aee the sights together. They cemented the acquaintance with drinks and oigare at the Holborn restaurant, and the prisoner proposed that next day they should go together to Hyde Park " to see the riding and the Albert Memorial." They met on Saturday in pursuance of this arrangement, and walked through tho park <• till they came to the part whore the Queen was born." Mr. Shiel: Kensington Palace ?■■• Proeeoutor said it was nt the end of the park. Leaving the park, they "crossed about two blocks, -1 and went into a restaurant, where the prisoner Dunn, who appeared to be a stranger to Green, introduced himself to thorn. He You are Americans? I am an Irish boy—l never met any of your kind before. Have a drink with me." They declined, but he ' insisted, and prosecutor had a rye whisky. Dunn seemed to be under the influence of drink. He told them

that a relative in Dublin had just left him a very largo sum of money, and he produced what witness took to be a bundle of Bank of England notes. He said he had £1500 on him, and witness, who was afraid Dunn might be robbed—(laughter)—proposed to Green that they should put him in a cab and send him to his hotel. Dunn declined to be put in a cab, and accompanied them to some place which witness believed was a station of the Underground Railway, where they all more whisky and cigars. Afterwards they , went to a restaurant, where witness and the prisoner Green had dinner, which Dunn, who said he had no appetite, insisted on paying for. During their dinner Dunn showed witness a cutting from a newspaper about a legacy of a hundred thousand pounds, which was to be distributed among the deserving poor of the United States and Canada—(laughter)—and said that was his little pile. Witness and Green assured Dunn that they also had plenty of money, and witness showed a handful of notes and gold. They went from the restaurant to tho refreshment room ab South Kensington Station, where they had moro drinks. Dunn said he wanted some oysters, and they proceeded along a busy road (the Brompton Road), where thoy called ab one or bwo more saloons. About

four o'clock Green said he must have missed the oyeter saloon, so they all three went into a bakery. Mr. Sheil: A what ? Prosecutor : A bakery—a restaurant. We all felt fche effects of what we had been drinking, and had cups of coffee. Dunn seemed quite under the influence of drink— (laughter)—and became very confidential. He said to Green, " Would you be afraid to trust me and this gentleman (prosecutor) £100, and let us go out with it to gob cigars, while you stop here ?" Green replied, " No," and gave Dunn what seemed to be about a hundred pounds in Bank of England notes. Dunn and I were going out to get cigars, and Dunn said, " I guess he (Green) is a gentleman. He's nob afraid of us." I said, "He's all right. He's an American gentleman. I met him yesterday at the Museum." (Laughter.) We bought cigars and returned to the bakery, nnd Dunn said to me, "Have you gob the confidence in me to let me take one hundred pounds of your money to go out and get cisrars with this gentleman (Green)?" I said I didn't have a hundred pounds with me in money, but I took out 45 dollars in American paper money and five new Bank of England £5 notes. Then I took off my gold watch and chain and diamond locket—(laughter)—nnd I said, "There's more than a hundred pounds." Dunn put my watch and chain and money in his pocket, and he and Green started for the door. They didn't seem to be more than out of my eight before Officer Travers rushed into the bakery and said to me, " Come along here, young fellow; those men that have got your money have jumped into a cab." (Laughter.) Irushed to the door, and found three men in the hands of what I afterwards found were

police officers. I went along with Officer Travers to the station, whore the prisoners were searched, and I identified my property. Mr. Shiel: All your property ? Prosecutor : Yes, sir. Mr. Shiel: You are a very lucky man. Green, do you want do ask the prosecutor any questions ? Green : No, sir. I believe the prosecutor has made a fair statement. Dunn asked no questions, and Mr. Chick, on behalf of Holborough, only crossexamined to ehow that the prisoners and the prosecutor were under the influence of drink, and that prosecutor did not see Holborough till he was in custody. Detective VVm. Travers, F. Division, described the capture of the prisoners, who had been watched by the police from the commencement. When Dunn and Green, having got the prosecutor's money, came out of the restaurant together laughing, they were instantly joined by Holborough, who had all the time been watching outside. They turned down William-street, and were getting into a cab when they were arrested. All the prisoners had gold and silver money of their own, and Green had in his possessior nine £5 and £10 notee on the Bank of England. Mr. Sheil remanded the prisoners. Mr. Clack asked that Holborough might be admitted to bail. Mr. Shiel: Certainly not. Prosecutor: I have booked my passage back to fche States, your worship, and the steamer sails on Saturday. Mr. Shiel: I cannot help that. The sessions are not till Monday. You are uncommonly lucky to get your money and your watch. But we will not give them up to you till after the trial, and if you try to go away you will be arrested.