THE "CONFIDENCE" TRICK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2046, 11 May 1893, Page 18

THE "CONFIDENCE" TRICK.

At the City Police Court on Saturday John Wi'l'ams a youth, was charged with conspiring to defraud another young man, named Thomas Dunn, ofthe sum of 30s on May 4.— Mr A. C. Hanlon appeared for the accused, who pleaded not guilty. — Detective Henderson having stated the particulars of the case, Thomas Dunn was called. He stated that on Thursday last he was accosted by the accused when in the north end of the city. Accused asked if he could direct him to the museum. Witness stated that he was going in that direction himself and accused might accompany him. On their way a man passed them and dropped a piece of leather tied round with a string. Accused picked it up and on opening it a threepenny piece was found inside. They then saw the man who dropped it coming back towards them. Accused gave witness the threepenny piece, saying that they would have a lark, and when the man came up accused handed him the piece of leather. He asked what he carried it about for. The man answered that it was not of much value, but there was a threepenny bit inside that he kept as a memento of a friend that was drowned in some shipwreck. Accused then said, *♦ What do you bet there's a threepenny-bit inside?" The man replied, "I don't want to take your money, but I'll bet a pound there's a threepenny-bit inside." Accused said that he would take him up, and prevailed on witness to bet to the extent of 30s. Witness, after some demur, did so, and handed over two bank notes. He took the numbers of the bank notes when he got them out of the Bank of New Zealand at Milton. The man then opened the piece of leather and took out a threepenny-bit that was hidden in a slit made in the side. Witness said that that was not the threepenny-bit he betted about ; the threepenny-piece he betted on was in his pocket. The man said, " You wanted to haye 1 me, but I had you." He then gave 10s change to witness and walked away. The accused went into the Museum, and witness continued on his way. He had not gone far when he was again joined by the accused, who said that the Museum was not open. They went as far as the Ship Hotel. When there witness said that the affair was a swindle, and he had a good mind to give the man in charge. Accused said it was no use making a fuss over a couple of pounds ; If they went to court, he said, they might get the worst of it, but as witness persisted, accused said he would meet him at the Arcade or the Grand Hotel at 2 o'clock, and he would try and get the money back in the meantime. Witness was at the place at the time appointed, but accused was not there. The note produced, which had been found on the accused, was one of the notes he had handed over to the man they made the wager with. — Detective M'Grath gave evidence that he arrested the accused at the Occidental Dining Rooms. He stated to witness that he did not know the man they had wagered with. Accused was taken to the police station and searched, The pound note produced was found in his possession. After he had been placed in the lock-up witness went back to the dining room, as he had seen the accused fumbling about a couch on which he was sitting. He searched the couch, and under one of the bolsters found a piece of leather, which complainant recognised as being identical with that which the man had dropped. In a slit in the side of the piece of leather a threepenny bit was found. Mr Hanlon reviewed the evidence at length, and submitted that a prima facie case was not made out. The Bench decided that a prima facie case had been made out.— Mr Hanlon inquired, if the accused were put in the box and swore that he did not know the other man, would the bench consider that sufficient evidence to weigh against the fact that a pound note which at one time belonged to the complainant was found in the possession of the accused.— Mr Reeves replied that the bench would not consider that evidence sufficient to persuade them that a prima facie case was not made out. — Mr Hanlon then stated that the accused would reserve his defence. — Accused was committed for trial. Bail was allowed — the prisoner in his own recognisance in the sum of £10, and two sureties of a similar amount.