Duped of £2OO.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13434, 22 July 1911, Page 10

Duped of £2OO.

3AME OLD "CONFIDENCE STORY." Confidence trick swindlers are at present very iramerons in London, and Scotland tarcl, officers are taking special measure* against, ttyem. Gangs have lately arrived roin the Continent and Amorica. . i, ' Tho principal haunts of these undesir ibles are the larger .West find hotels, the various exhibitions, and all the principal resorts where wealthy visitors cougrega fc . .hey have already' begun operations, and or some days past complaints have rcaohjd tho police authorities.

Ono- of tho latest victims is a wenlthy vuglo-Indiau tea planter who is at prawn t staying at a select hotel in .tho \Vest ■'hid. Hp has been swindled by two "con fideucc" men out of iJ2OO in Bank of England notes. lie also lost a valuable koduk ?amcia.

The story of the robbery is the old familiar one. Outside the Coronation Exhibition at Shepherd's Bush, a well dressed nan accosted his victim, and asked to be iirected on his way. He was an Austra'ian, "just arrived to see the sights," he -aid. Both being strangers to London, an ■icquaiiilance began, and the day was >petft together. Before parting the Australian promised hia now acouaititanoc a triii in his motor car next day. He called, as arranged, at the hotel, but without the car. "My sister,has taken it to-day," but to-morrow will do as well," he said, and followed this up with a suggestion that they should do more sightseeing.

The visitor from India agrocd, and, car. •ying with him a valuablo camera, the ouple started.

AN EFFUSIVE STRANGEK. In Oxford Street the conventional, ne■essary, "well-dressed stranger" appeared, lust in front of the two men he dropped = _ little green velvet ease, which the vic■ime restored to him.. The stranger was iffusivo in his thanks, did not know what le should have done had he lost the case, which was full of valuable gems, and insisted on the finder taking wine with him. Once ensconced in! a wine bar near Fort - 'and Place, the latest arrival told the old, -ild story of the trouble he had in distributing some ,£20,000 in charity in accorlance with the will of his late tYould they help him ? . , The Australian, "as a proof of his conIdence" in their newly-made acquaintance, 'landed over a big "wad' of what were Ulcged to bo bank-notes, and suggested ■hat his newly-found Anglo-Indian comlanion should show similar confidence. The ! atter wont to his agents—a well-known firm of hankers in Pall Mall—and drew £2OO iu Bank of England notes, and entrusted them to the care of this wealthy dispenser of charity. It was not long before the latter, Carrying with him the victim's camera, left, ; n company with the "Australian," to fetch from his bank some of the funds 'or distribution. An hour later it dawned ou tho wealthy victim what had really barmen cd.

He has paced the matter in the hands if the poice. and Detective-Inspector Bcrreft is inquiring into the matter. Too description of the two wanted men Sallies with that of a couple of well-known •xnerts in the art of telling the confidence talc.

_ "Dicky," said his mother, "when you livided those five caramels with your lister did you give, her threof" "No, rna. " I thought tliey wouldn't ■oirif> out even, sol nte One 'lore I began to divide."