GLITTERING WATCH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21470, 19 April 1933, Page 9

GLITTERING WATCH

HOW BOY WAS DUPED AFRAID TO TELL MOTHER [FROM OUR OWN" correspondent] MELBOURNE, April 13 A youth who was tricked into paying £lO for a watch that was worth 7s 6cl hit himself over the head with an iron bar on Tuesday, and told the police he had been assaulted and robbed because he was afraid to go home and tell the real story to his mother, with whom he shared his bank account. With blood streaming from a wound in the scalp, the boy was admitted to the Alel bourne Hospital, where he told the real story of how he had been a victim of three confidence men. Two of them engaged the youth in conversation. A glittering watch was produced, then its value was discussed. Tho man with the watch, a Dutchman, said it was worth £ls, but he would sell it for £lO, as ho wanted to get back to Holland. To prove its value to the youth he offered to go down to a jeweller's and have it valued. At the door of the jeweller's shop they were met by a .man who said lis was the manager of tho shop, ami he was just going out to lunch. With one look at the watch the "manager" said it was worth £ls, and lie would like to buy such a remarkable watch himself. That was enough for the youth, who went straight to his bank and drew out £lO, which he handed over for the watch. Not many minutes after he 16ft the two men he decided to have it valued at another jeweller's shop.< " It's wocJ.li (S 6d, not a penny more," said the valuer. A pawnbroker offered him 5s for it, so ho looked for an iron bar to "fake" a story of assault and robbery.