MEAN CONFIDENCE TRICK,

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2665, 10 January 1916, Page 9

MEAN CONFIDENCE TRICK

SOLDIERS ROBBED BY SHARPS. Percy Jolin Connors, a nativo of Australia, 25 years of age, was committed for trial on a charge of stealing £4 from a member of t,lio New Zealand Field Artillery on January 6. The samo accused was sentenced to a month's imprisonment for stealing £2 from another member of the Field Artillery. It appeared that on Thursday last, Connors and another man made the acquaintnace of the two soldiers, and, in tboir company visited the New Zealander Hotel. "VYhile-in the bar of tlio hotel, the soldiers expressed a desire to change some pound notes into gold. The. barmaidg was unable to effect tlio exchange and Connors and the. other civilian offered to find the gold. Never doubting the honesty of the two civilians. the soldiers handed over . the notes and Connors and his friend left the bar of the hotel promising to return in quick time with the gold. ■ After waiting in vain for the civilians to return,- the soldiers visited the police sta-' 'tion and Telated the manner in which they had been duped. Detective-Ser-geant Cox and Detective Carney arrested Connors in Willis Stree# on Friday/ afternoon and lie was identified b.v the soldiers, and by the barmaid of the hotel as one of the men gone for change. ' In passing sentence on the minor charge, the Magistrate characterised the theft as a particularly mean one. Men who were going out to fight for thoir country were being "taken down" on' all sides, and when His Worship had any opportunity of putting a stop to it he was going to make use of such opportunity. v , |

OTHER CASES. An elderly mau, named Nathan Hanreck, pleaded not guilty to a charge of stealing a handbag, valued at 10s., the property of a' Russian, named George Braveman. On tlio application of Sub-Inspector Mackinnon, the accused was remanded until to-day. For using obscene language in Braildon Street oil Friday afternoon, Timothy Long was fined £3, in default to undergo a month's imprisonment. On a charge of drunkenness, tile same accused was convicted and discharged. Persons convicted of drunkenness were dealt with as follow: Jameslverr, a month's imprisonment; William Whiteside. » month's imprisonment: Patrick Sinnott. fined £3, Ivith tlio option of a month's imprisonment ; Lilian Dukes, fined 10s., or '18 hours' imprisonment; Mary Turtiji, fined 10s. or 43 hours' imprisonment; Leslie Norman Sykes (a soldier) was handed over to tile military authorities.