ANOTHER CONFIDENCE TRICK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21384, 11 July 1931, Page 16

ANOTHER CONFIDENCE TRICK

NEW ZEALAND VICTIM FORTUNE AND DROPPED ROSARY. (From Oub Own (’or respondent.) : LONDON, May 21. In the Westminster' Police Court on - May 19 the old, old confidence trick story of the dropped rosary and an inheritance from a millionaire uncle was told before the magistrate (Mr Boyd). A well-dressed man giving the name, of. Wilfrid Nelson, aged 34, pleaded guilty to being concerned in stealing £18(1 by means of a trick from Mr. William M'Naught Caven ' (Christchurch), who, with ’ Mrs Cayen, is on a tour in this country. ; ; Mr Barker (prosecuting for the police) said'Nelson got into ■ conversation with Mr and Mrs, Graven, who were looking in the window of an antique shop. Nelson offered to show them the sights of London and accompanied them to the West End, where an evident accomplice dropped a rosary. -■ “ CONVENTIONAL METHODS.” This was picked up and restored to him, and he told the'story of an inheritance of £BOO,OOO, of which the Pope was to have £40,000 and other very large sums were to he given to charities in different parts of the world. : ... A newspaper was produced showing a printed report of the alleged legacy. “Then,” said Mr Barker, “the conventional methods of the confidence trick - were continued. The accomplice showed what appeared to be a pile of notes and Mr Caven and his wife were,left sitting at a restaurant table while the swindlers decamped with. Mr Caven’s pocket book, which he had parted with to show his confidence.” • • Detective Sergeant Clements said that Nelson had ! been' many times convicted in Australia' and this country. Mr. Ray WMteway ( defending) asked the court to defer sentence as Nelson ■ would make-what reparation he could to Mr Caven. ■ The Magistrate said he only -consented to deal summarily with the case as Mr Cayen was soon leaving this country., He < would remand Nelson for a week, hut could make no promise of a reduction of sentence. .