THE CONFIDENCE TRICK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22712, 26 October 1935, Page 8

THE CONFIDENCE TRICK

CANADIAN IN LONDON DUPED Stories of a casual meeting in the Strand, an oil company, a fortune of £600,000, and a Canadian visitor who parted with £IOO, were told in a remarkable case at the Guildhall recently. In the dock was William Lucas (49), described as a clerk, of Wellington street, Camden Town, who pleaded guilty to stealing £IOO in bank notes irom Mr Robert C. Fitzsimmons, of Edmonton,; Alberta, Canada, who is temporarily staying at a West End hotel. Lucas asked the court to deal with the case, but he was remanded. *• In April, related Detective Sergeant Cyril Hogg, of the city police, Mr Fitzsimmons met Lucas casually in the Strand, In the course of conversation, confidences were* exchanged, Lucas saying ,he waa from New Zealand, and Mr Fitzsimmons revealing that he had come to England with a view to financing an oil company . that was being formed in Canada. • ■;_ ' “Oh,” Lucas was alleged to have said, “I can find you acme men with money who would be interested in the scheme.” For a day or two, continued the officer, the two men went about London together, and, finally, on April 26, in Bishopsgate, Lucas, while in Mr Fitzsimmons’s company, accosted a man whom he introduced to Mr Fitzsimmons as “Mr Hogan.” This meeting was succeeded by drinks and conversation. Mr Fitzsimmons’s plans were touched on by Lucas, and when “Mr Hogan ” was told about the oil company in Canada he immediately, became fired with enthusiasm.

“Look here,” “Hogan” was alleged to have said, “I am worth £600,000, and I am quite ready to invest £40,000 in your oil business. But, of course, as a matter of form I shall require proof of your bona fides. You will have to show me that you have some money.” Mr Fitzsimmons said this was only reasonable. He went to a bank in' the city' with a letter of credit, obtained £SOO in notes, and rejoined Lucas and “ Hogan ” in the Pea Hen, Bishopsgate. There, it was added, Mr Fitzsimmons duly produced evidence of means. “Yes; that’s all right,” said “ Hogan,” “ but now I want you to put £IOO into my hand as proof of good faith —so necessary in'such big transactions.” Without hesitation Mr Fitzsimmons handed to “ Hogan ” the sum asked for in bank notes. > “ Now,” remarked “ Hogan,” “ my friend and I will just go round the corner with them.” “They went," said Sergeant Hogg, “ and—’didn’t come back.” Mr Fitzs : mmons, who is president of the International Bitumen Company, Ltd., of Alberta, later saw Lucas in Bishopsgate, and at once handed him over to the police. When he was arrested there was found on him a block of flimsy slips of the type generally used by confidence trick men to “flash” as banknotes.