THE CONFIDENCE TRICK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2059, 10 August 1893, Page 28

THE CONFIDENCE TRICK.

Two men, • giving * their names as John Hunter and John Burke, who were bent upon participating in the pleasure of 'assisting at the Grand National Steeplechase meeting in Christ- , church this week, were arrested on the northern express yesterday morning by Chief-detective Henderson and Detective M'Grath on a oharge of having imposed upon a lad named Joneß, who came into town from the country on Monday night, and the accused were subsequently picked out by Jones from several others as being the men by whom ho had been victimised. The story of the prosecutor is that on his arrival in Dunedin by the south express on Monday evening he was accosted by Burke, who asked him to direct him to" Richards baardiog house. Jones replied that he was a stranger in town, and Burke, representing himself to be the proprietor of a station in Southland, inquired if Jones was in quest of employment, and if he was accustomed to sheep. Jotes said that he was, and Burke said that he had telegraphed to his uncle to procure two men for him, and that, if these had not been procured, he thought that Jones would suit him. The benevolent - " squatter " suggested to the Tokomairiro youth that he should go with him to his uncle'p, and Jones, falling in with the proposal, accompanied Burke to the Old Brigade Hotel in George street.' Burke informed the victim that this hotel and several shops in the neighbourhood belonged to the uncle, who was, he said, a wealthy man. Jones was taken into an empty room, where he remained while his companion went out to look for his relative, and after some little delay Hunter was introduced as the uncle aforesaid. Jones was forewarned as to the eccentricity of tbe gentleman's character by Burke, who, saving that his uncle would never accept liquor from him, hinted that possibly he might not be so diffident if Jones were to propose drinks. The latter was agreeable, at anyrate, to test the strength of Hunter's objection to drinking, and, producing a florin, proposed to "shout." Hunter, while he expressed himself as being indifferent on- the subject, suggested that instead of Jones standing drinks', they should have •• a shilling in," the winner to shout. This was agreed to,, and while Hunter was absent from the room with the object, as he explained, of obtaining the dice, Burke proposed to Jones that they should go mates And ease the " uncle "of some of his wealth. On Hunter returnipg, ho threw half a sovereign on the table, saying that he had no change, and the others eaph put down a similar amount, Jones falling the more readily into tho trap as Burke had set before him tbe acquisition of some of the uncle's money as being an object which the pair of them should ha/c in view. Hunter won the throw, but, with a lordly contempt for money, left the pool on tho table, and, at Burko'n prompting, Jones and ho each staked down £1 sigiiiast Hunter's winnings. The latter again won, and the process was three times repeated. His misfortune did not encourage Jones to continue throwing, and Hutter, with all his disregard for money, then swept up his winnings and went out, leaving the victim with Burke. These two left the hotel, and as they went along George street the pseudo-squatter told Jones that bis uncle had obtained for him the men whom he required ; consequently he did not need Jones's services, but he recommended him to go to Dunback, where the mention of his - (Burkes) name would obtain for him employmentin a rabbit factory. The advice was not accepted by Jones, who chose instead to report the matter to the police, with the result already stated. The accused were handcuffed in the railway parcels office, where something was heard to drop oathe floor, which proved Go be a die which had no number higher than a three on it ; and Burke was detected in attempting to xconceal a die which had no number less than a four. Marked cards were also found in', the possession of the accused, - one rock being carried in a cigar case, which, according to the prosecutor, was used as the dice box while the " throwing "' was going on in the hotel.

The annual tournament of the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association will be held at Auckland this year on the 26th to 29th December.