£1O,OOO LOST BY TRICK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21100, 6 February 1932, Page 2 (Supplement)

£IO,OOO LOST BY TRICK.

CONFIDENCE MAN AGAIN. FOOLISH PLANTER'S MONEY. * STRANGER MET AT HOTEL. How a retired West Indies planter lost £IO,OOO by an alleged confidence trick was told at the Old Bailey, London, when Norman Ilill, aged 35, salesman, was charged with conspiring with a man named Henderson to obtain from Lewis Leslie Punnett the sum of £IO,OOO by false pretences. Sir Percival Clarke, prosecuting, stated that Mr. Punnett came to England for medical treatment, and after an operation he stayed at the King's Court Hotel, Paddington. Hill was staying there under the name of Russell, and the two men became friendly. While walking together along a street they met a man Ilill recognised as , a Mr. Henderson, whom ho had met ifi : Manchester. The man at first did not 1 seem to remember Hill, but eventually they all went to a restaurant. Henderson, went on Sir Percival, said he dealt in stocks and shares, but he had to be very careful over his transactions, j as if they becar e known his employers j would dismiss him. Ho had already been reprimanded for a deal made in Manchester. He added that he had some good information, and if Hill and Mr. Punnett helped him he would give them 25 per cent, of the profits. Henderson went out and came back carrying what looked like a bundle of American notes and a trading slip and a card of introduction. He gave them to Hill and told him to go in a private motor-car, which was waiting round the corner, to the office of the International Exchange and make the investment. Hill went away and said he had made the deal according to instructions. Story of " £42,000 Profit." ■ They met again the following day, and Henderson said the deal was successful, and he asked Ilill to collect the proceeds. Hill returned with what looked like a • quantity of notes to tho value of £2OOO, supposed to represent £IOOO investment j money and £IOOO profit. I Henderson said he wanted the money to go back on another deal. This was done, and Hill said a profit of £42,000 had been made, but the manager wanted to see Henderson before he paid the money. Henderson went out, and when he returned he asked Hill why he had told the manager that lie (Henderson) would guarantee tho deal, adding that ho would lose his position. Henderson explained that he told the manager he was.not behind the deal, but that he introduced Hill and Punnett for trading purposes, and that they would arrange a credit of £20,000 each. Hill said he thought he could get £IB,OOO from Manchester. Henderson said he could get the whole of the £40,000 from America, but Mr. Punnett must find his credit of £20,000. Mr. Punnett cabled to a friend in Trinidad and obtained £IO,OOO, and it was arranged that another £IO,OOO should be obtained to help him with his share. When they met again Mr. Punnett had his £IO,OOO, and Ilill came with his pockets " bulging with money." Victim in Witness Box. Hill went to deposit tho money, and, added Sir Percival Clarke, Hill was the last person seen with it. Henderson went to Paris, and Mr. Punnett followed. There was a telephone conversation between them and a meeting in Paris was arranged. Air. Punnett returned to England, and after consulting his agents he went to Scotland Yard. Hill was arrested at Dover on his return from the Continent. Mr. Piwinett, in the witness box, stated that he was a retired planter, and lived at Trinidad, West Indies. Hill was a stranger to him when they met at the King's Court Hotel. Hill told him his name was Russell, and that he came from Melbourne, where he had a business. Hill expla'ned that his fiancee had died three days before they were to hav-e been married. He was connected with real estate in Australia, and he had left his business in the hands of an attorney while he travelled to get over tho shock of the bereavement. _Cross-examined by Mr. Comvns Carr, K.C., Mr. Punnett stated that ho trusted Henderson because he was a friend of Hill, and he trusted Hill. He agreed that Henderson made all the statements except that in which Hill said there was a profit of £42,000 on a deal. By his manner,of speaking Henderson inspired confidence. Mr. Comyns Carr intimated that he did not propose to call any evidence for the defence. Four Years' Imprisonment. Hill was found " guilty " of obtaining money by false pretences and conspiring to defraud. He was found " not guilty " of larceny. Detective Inspector Smith stated that Hill was an Australian, born in Victoria. At tho ago of 14 he joined the Australian Navy. At the outbreak of war ho joined the Australian Field Force. Hill was arrested in 1920 in London for being in possession of " Bank of Engraving " notes, and was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment. Henderson, Detective Inspector Smith understood, was in the South of France or Italy. His extradition had not been asked for. The whole of the £IO,OOO had been changed in France with the exception of a small amount. The Recorder, Sir Ernest Wild, observed that Hill was tho demy and staged the whole thing. He wormmu himself into the confidence of this planter, who was fool enough to part with £IO,OOO in hard cash. That was the confidence trick come to life again on a very elaborate scale. Only two points were in Hill's favour One was that he had been 10 years without a conviction, and the other that ho was wise enough not to go into the witness box and commit perjury. His sentence would be four years' penal servitude. Hill: Thank you, my lord.