AN AUDACIOUS ROBBERY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1439, 14 May 1912, Page 4

AN AUDACIOUS ROBBERY.

THIEVE'S CLEVER 4USE. ffly leleiErapli-l'ress Astuclntloa.i Auckland, May 13. A most audacious robbery was brought oft' this afternoon by means of ft tuck which was played upon an unsuspecting jeweller's assistant. The perpetrator ot the fraud netted {our diamond ving» worth in all nearly fifty pounds. At 3.15 p.m. yesterday tho mnnngfir of Mr. Jus. i'ascoe's jewellery establishment in Karniigahiipe Read answered a call to tho telephone, Speaking in a niceiy modulated tone the pallor on the (elephono said: "This is Mr. .Nathan speaking, and as 1 want to make a present to a young lady who has been very kind to sue, I shall be glad if you will send sonic diamond rings round to my residence in Karangahape Road for me tn select from." Tho speaker also said that he had a marble clock which required attention and that the messengei, bringing the rings could take the clock back (o tho shop. Knowing that porno years ago when employed by another jeweller Mr. Pascoo used to nttend to Mr. .Nathan's clocks, the manager, naturally anxious to make the sale, took four likely rings out of the stock, and entrusted them So a watchmaker employed on the premises to take along to Mr.'David Nathan's house, "St. Kevens," Karailgahape Head, for a solection to bo made. . On arrival at the gate of "St. Kevens" the messenger met ft man carrying an overcoat over his arm. The stranger said: "You are Irom I'ascoe's and you havo a sniail parcel for me. I am Mr. Nathan." Satisfied from his manner ns to the man's bona tides tho messenger had no hesitation in handing over the parcel of rings with which ho had Wen sent. Tho stranger upon receiving them said: "That will bo all right. I will ciioose ono and send the others back, lie added that the clock which required repairing was down at the warehouse (presumably Messrs. L. I). Nathan and Co.'s), and that he would send for it and send it along to Mr. Puscoe later on. Tho messenger returned to tho shop leaving tho stranger and incidentally tho diamond rings at the gate of Mr, David Nathan's residence. When he reached tho shop and it was ascertained from him wliat had occurred suspicions were aroused, and Mr. David Nathan was immediately rung up. Mr. Nathan denied all knowledge of the telephone message which had resulted in the handing over of tho rings, and it was then clear that tho whole thing was a clever ruse fraudulently to obtain possession of as many rings as the jeweller might feel disposed to send along.