NEW ZEALANDERS TRICKED

Otago Witness, Issue 3495, 8 March 1921, Page 57

NEW ZEALANDERS TRICKED

AN INGRATIATING STRANGER. The acquaintance of a confiding stranger yesterday (says the Argus of February 18) cost Mr O. Scott Thompson and Mr Arnold Blackman, two retired sheep-farmers from New Zealand, a considerable amount of money. While Mr Thompson and Mr Blackman were standing on the deck of the s.s. Narkunda at Port Melbourne they got irto conversation with a man between 35 ar d 40 years of age, who informed them ihat he was a representative of the New aland Freezing and Fertiliser Works. After chatting to their new acquaintance for some time, the two New Zealanders decided to go into the city, and readily vcquiesced when the amiable stranger suggested that he should accompany them. They arrived in Collins street, and, Mr Thompson having some business to do at the post office, the stranger asked Mr Blackman to accompany him to a shop to make a purchase. In. the shop the stranger discovered H.at he did not have sufficient money, and Piked Mr Blackman for a loan. Mr Blackman handed him £2 Us, and the stranger disappeared into another part of the shop. By the time suspicion dawned in the mind of Mr Blackman the resourceful trickster had reached the post office in Elizabeth street, and was requesting the loan of £1 from Mr Thompson and making an excuse for the absence of Mr Blackman. Mr Thompson good-naturedly produced a roll of notes to the value of £3O. and was selecting one, when the stranger took the roll from Mr Thompson’s hand, and, saying that he would return in a few seconds, disappeared. As the stranger did not reappear Mr Thompson sought Mr Blackman, and together they went to the detective office.