OLD CONFIDENCE TRICK

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2814, 4 July 1916, Page 7

OLD CONFIDENCE TRICK

A STATE MINISTER VICTIMISED. • Tho State Attorney-General of Nov South* "Wales confesses that'lie lias been the victim of an exceptionally wellplanned confidence "trick. The daring that prompted the trickster to cliooso tho very fountain-head of tho Stale's criminal jurisprudence as his victim can bo better imagined than described, though tho comparative ease with which ho mado the bag is a tribute. to the astuteness which directed the choice. Perhaps tho way was mado easy % tlio assumption by tho confidence man of the role of an enthusiastic Labour supporter, who knew the ins and outs of Mr. Hall's electioneering' contests and victories. However that may have been, it is a fact that he laid his plaus with an apparent confideuco that results fully justified. The mail rnaue a call upon Mr. Hall ono djiy, and after, discussing past electioneering victories and speculating confidently regarding future contests, mentioned casually that times wero not so prosperous' with liim as they used,to Im. The Attorney-General, genuinely sympathetic with an old Labourite' in dis--1 tress, elicited by. a few discreet inquiries that tho man had suffered a bereavement by tho death of his child, .and had not sufficient money to . pay the funeral expenses. To discover the amount of tho shortage was an. easy matter, and Mr. Hall generously made' up tho difference, with a few slulilngs to spare. Five or six weeks passed, and the man appeared again. Ho regretted "that ho was unable just then to repay Mr. Hall, but explained that since they last met his life had been ono series of misfortunes. Ifis wife had been in hospital for several weeks, and now had to be taken home, but ho had not enough money to - hire a taxi for tho purpose. It. was a serious matter, because ho could not afford to go on paying fees for private hospital treatment. "I'll see that an ambulance is sent to take your wife home," Mr. Hall offered, "and if I can't get an ambulancc I'll engago a closed taxi-cab." Tho man was grateful, though ho no doubt expected tho cash.for tho hire of tho taxi. Mi\ Hall was forunato in securing an ambulance, i ami gave precise directions as to tho removal of Mrs. to her home. About 9 o'clock that night he was called to the telephone to talk to a much-agitated sun--1 bulanco driver. Tho man had searched the city and suburbs, but lind .failed to find Hie hospital named, nor could ho discover Mrs. in any of the numerous institutions ho had visited.

■ It was then that Jtr. Hall realised, how ho had been had. Now he says ho will gladly subscribe to a fund for the funeral of the ma" who tonic him down so ueatly.—Sydney "Sun."