CONFIDENCE MAN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23859, 13 July 1939, Page 12

CONFIDENCE MAN

POSED AS NEW ZEALANDER SIX MONTHS’ HARD LABOUR ‘From Oub Own Correspondent! LONDON, June 26. At Guildhall on June 23 George Giles, aged 51, salesman, who gave no address, was charged with stealing the sum of £317 by means of the confidence truck. He pleaded guilty, and asked that a similar charge of stealing £2O in November last should be taken into consideration.

Detective Sergeant Hemstock slated that the victim in the first case was a man holding an important official position in the Philippine Islands who did not wish his name to be published. Giles, giving the name of Cameron, posed as a New Zealander on a visit to this country. While he and the prosecutor were walking along St. Martin's-le Grand a man walking in front of them was seen to drop a glove. The accused picked it up and handed it to the owner, who, in expressing his thanks, mentioned that his name was O’Reilly, and said that he had been left a fortune of £600,000 by his uncle. There was a proviso in the “uncle's will” that £60.000 of the money must be distributed in charity. The prosecutor was persuaded to cash a cheque for 1500 dollars, the detective sergeant said, and returned to a restaurant with £317 in notes. These he handed to the accused, who asked him to “ loan it him for a few minutes as evidence of good faith.” “ O’Reilly ” and Giles then went out “ for a short walk.” and never returned. In the second case, Sergeant Hemstock said, the victim was an Indian to whom Giles introduced himself. He advised the Indian to change what money he had into sovereigns. “ I can get you as many sovereigns as you wish,” he declared. The Indian handed the accused £2O, and in due course received from him a packet of bright, new coins. These, upon close examination, and after the accused had taken his departure were found to be freshly-minted halfpennies. The accused was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment with hard labour.