"CHEAP" COAL

NZ Truth, Issue 935, 27 October 1923, Page 6

"CHEAP" COAL

Considering that Christohureh lontj atro became wise to thimble riggers nnd cold brick merchants, the natural inference would be that Cyclopolis is the list placo m the world m which the genius "crook" or "shyster" would hope to make a living. >et fresh ways of playing on the credulity of tho community are tried with moro or jess success every clay. One Instance came before tho Court last week when a resnoctablc-looking young man pleaded eullty to obtaining money by a fnlse pretence. His mode of operation how«vor, was one which, the mo3t level-headed of citizens might have fallen for and, what is more, the accused person actually delivered the poods that he promised to deliver. Taking advantage of tho recent coal shortage, his "stunt" was to call on well-known householders and pitch a tale to them about ho and a couplo of mates having 1 chartered a ship to brine coal from Australia. On getting an order, he would In duo course, send a local coal merchant to tho house with the amount of coal ordered. After that he had merely to call nt tho houso nml collect the cash for the consignment. Trouble didn't really commence until tho early part of tho following month, when the 1 <cal coal merchant sent his bill In to tho householder, who. by that time would probably bo down to tho bottom of the bin and wondering when tho next shipment of cheap "Ausslo"' coal was due.