ALLEGED CONFIDENCE TRICK

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 220, 13 April 1933, Page 6

ALLEGED CONFIDENCE TRICK

Normanby Man Complains ! CASE HEARD IN PALMERSTON NORTH I Showman Sent lor Trial \ ■' ? Press Association. —Copyright. Palmerston North, April 12. ■ A remarkable story in which a Swiss farmer of Normanby, Jacob Rutteman, alleged that he was the victim of a confidence trick and was induced to part with £450 was told in the Magistrate’s Court when a showman, Edward Tunnecliffe, appeared on three charges that by conspiring with persons unknown he by deceit obtained from Rutteman on April 19, 1932, sums of £IOO and £lO and on April 23 £340. Tunnecliffe was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Rutteman said he met Tunnecliffe by Chance on a train while going to Wellington on April 18. Tunnecliffe asked for his company in an adjacent seat, talked racing and said his name was Wallace and that he had a racehorse en route to the Nelson races.

b‘T asked the horse’s name,” said Rutteman, “but the only reply I got was that it was not a Phar Lap but still was 6 good horse.”

y Tunnecliffe induced him, Rutteman Said, to cross to Nelson, where ho handed over £IOO to be put on Wallace’s horse, Wallace claiming as an inducement that he recently made £2IOO on the {(time horse through bookmakers, RutteAan also handed over £lO for a “double” on Landmark and Wallace’s horse. Returning to Wellington he was induced to go to Hawera for more money. He drew £7O and secured a cheque for £l5O, money owing him. Ho then proceeded to Palmerston North, where he met Tunnecliffe and associates at an v hotel; They listened to the results of fl-the races by v/ireless. y* Tunnecliffe entered the room and said: /“Sorry, Jacob, our money is lost.” Tun-j-xiecliffe added it could be recovered

/with other investments and Rutteman 'handed over £7O, plus £l5O, plus a xui/ther cheque for £l2O, all to be put * a Wallace’s horse running at Nelson the ,second day. Several days later Ruttornan met Tnn'.inccUffe 'at Wellington. Turmccliffc said /.something happened to the horse and it could not run. Two days later Rutte'man went home. / f Rutteman said he was able to identify ".Tunnediffe as the person he understood .to be Wallace. Expert witnesses were called by the -police to compare hand-writings, and Detective Russell said Tunnecliffe admitted •usjjig the name Wallace at shows. "Vi Tunnecliffe was charged also with a 'similar offence in respect of a retired 'hotel-keeper, William Drysdale, Wairoa, the sum involved being £IOO.

if Drysdale said he saw Tunnecliffe in,Vest money for him with success and ■later was induced to part with £IOO on /receipt by Tunnecliffe of a telegram purported to be signed by Hector Gray relating to a “sure thing” at Takapuna •paces. A day or two later ho went to Tunnecliffe’s home asking for the cheque back but was told he was mad. Ho then wired the bank stopping payment but received a reply that the cheque was already cashed. Tunnecliffe pleaded not guilty and was committed for trial.