CONFIDENCE TRICKS

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3273, 2 March 1937, Page 7

CONFIDENCE TRICKS

MENACE AT SHOWS SOME METHODS EMPLOYED The menace of unlicensed sideshowmen at A. and P. shows who practice all the arts of the confidence trickster on unsuspecting members of the public, has been exercising the minds of members of show committees for years, and steps are being taken to ensure that all are licensed.

Information concerning the methods employed by these wastrels at recent shows has been circularised by the Royal Agricultural Society. "Confidence men succeeded in obtaining £ls from a Carterton business man at the Pabiatua Show shortly after the show's activities began today. The man who was mulcted of his money stayed in Pahiatua on the previous evening, and, having heard his son was at the show, he visited the grounds to see him. As he was entering the gate he was approached by a man who inquired if he had seen a pair of hunters down the road. The Carterton man said he had not, and walked down the road with his new found companion, returning to the show a few minutes later.

"In the grounds the confidence man gave the Carterton man a fountain pen which was accepted doubtfully. Another man joined the pair, the three men going indirectly to a stall containing an alleged game of skill, whereupon one of the men wagered the other £2 to £1 that he couldn't roll a ball into a recess down the alley. The confidence man's opponent acceped the wager and was duly paid when he won. The Carterton man was then induced to try his skill and he pulled out a roll containing £ls in notes. One of the confidence men offered to hold the notes while the Carterton man buttoned up his overcoat, and when given the money to hold he ran round the tents, pursued by the Carterton man. The third man, however, intervened and restrained the Carterton man, who was of slight build, from his pursuit. "The matter was later reported to the police, Detective Orme Power, from the Palmerston North station, receiving the information that somewhat similar confidence tricks in which the fountain pens figure as gifts were successfully tried at both the Feilding and Dannevirke shows. At Feilding, one of the livestock judges was taken down for £oo. Fortunately for the judge, however, h« paid by cheque payable on a Palmerston North bank and payment 'was stopped.

"In that case, the confidence men presented the judge with a fountain pen and induced him to write a cheque for £SO and sign it. They then made out to burn the cheque in front of the judge. Not absolutely certain that the correct cheque had been burnt, the judge rang his Palmerston North bank and stopped payment."