THE CONFIDENCE TRICK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12818, 18 March 1905, Page 5

THE CONFIDENCE TRICK.

ANOTHER GUMDIGGER'VICTIMISED. By Telegraph Press Association Copyright", '.-O

Melbourne, March 17.. .; ANOTHER Austrian gumdigger from New Zealand has been a victim of the confidence trick. The police, after a severe struggle,, captured the men who had robbed him, and recovered most of his money. ~ ,

The following is an account of the robbery by the confidence trick at Hobarfc last; week: — cruel robbery was perpetrated bV confidence men on an Austrian named Nicholas Lopez, a steerage passenger by the Orfcona, from Sydney. Lopez had £141 10* in his possession, the savings of 10 years' gumdigging in New' Zealand, with.' which! ho was returning to his family in Austria. On board' be "chummed" •with another steerage passenger, and the two received! occasional nods from a stylishly dressed! second-class passenger. When the steamer arrived at Hobarfe Lopez and his companion went ashore, and bad some drinks in an hotel. To their surprise, the well-dressed second-class passenger walked in. He was most affable. Producing a photograph frame, he explained; that it was a trick frame, and that no oneunacquainted with the trick could open it., Lopez's friend was sceptical. The second--class passenger threw £500 in notes on the table, and challenged the other man to pub up a similar sum. Lopez's friend promptly wrote a cheque for the amount, of course, failed to do the trick. He had "Iwi'j his £500, but the second-class passenger was dubious about the cheque. « "Have you got any cash with you?" said the loser to Lopez, as though the idea had suddenly occurred to him. / Lopez had £145 10s. which he produced. "Will you lend it to me till I cash 'this ; cheque?" asked his friend. ,<; Lopez tumbled straight into the trap, and; handed over his savings without demur. . ;'< There was no time, however, to cash tjiaj cheque, but Lopez's friend showed a feanß draft for £8000, and promised faithfully \a get the cash at Adelaide. Lope^trustV l him implicitly, and the three men went on board the steamer to continue the voyage. When the vessel left Lopez was horrified to; find that his two friends were not on hoard.. Even their baggage had been removed-\ . It has since been found that almost) the same trick, was employed on,'a■Melbourne youth, who was passing throng}- Hobarfc on his way to New Zealand. On the voyage from Melbourne to Hobart in the s.s. Winimera this youth and his friends met a plea-sant-mannered stranger, who soon struck up ai friendship with them. He volunteered to show them round Hobart, and while doing so introduced them to his "boss"—an exceedingly well-dressed gentleman. They found! a case containing a photograph, air opened it. Soon afterwards an old gentleman appeared, who claimed the photograph ease. _ They returned it to him. He then explained that it was a trick case, which no one unacquainted with the trick coiilr" open. They, of course, laughed at him, and he then offered to bet £500 that the friend they had met on the steamer could not open it while he counted 16. The bet appeared to be such a good one that they all clubbed together and made up £200. The friend, of course, failed to open the case, and the old gentleman departed, chuckling, with the £200. The Melbourne youtb lost £32a1l ho had. This' swindle seems to have been worked by the same gang.