A COLONIST FLEECED IN LONDON.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1072, 10 November 1882, Page 4

A COLONIST FLEECED IN LONDON.

Information has boon given at tbo cliiof office of (hf A Division of the Metropolitan Police, Kin.: street, Westminster, of tbo following remark ably well planned and successfullvexecuted swindle by means of what is known as the “confidence trick.” From the informin'ion given by the victim, a Monsieur Ferrers, a resident in Sydney, New South Wales, it ap pears that he arrived in London from Sydney last week, for the pui-pose of taking back with him to the colony two young relatives. On Monday last, whilst s'anding on the platform of the Victoria S f ation, he was accosted bv a well dressed person, who asked him if he spoke Italian. He replied in the affirmative, when, after some fmther conversation, it was ■proposed that M. Ferrers, his two friends, and the stranger should go on to the Honso of Commons and Westminster Abbey, the stranger telling them that he had a free pass over both places, night or day. They went, and after visiting the Commit tee-rooms of the House and going over the Abbey they parted, making an appointment to meet the next day. On Tuesday the four met at 10 o’clock and proceeded to St. Paul’s, and whilst there they were joined by an elderly 44 gentleman,” who said that he was an old colonist, and remembered M Fener's face in Sydney: that he had been three months in London, and was sick of it, and meant returning to Sydney by the , naming a ship which happened to be the very ship that Monsieur Ferrers was returning in with his friends. This intelligence proved so very pleasant, the old “gentleman” joined the party, and whilst looking at the monuments a young man rushed up and seized the gentleman who spoke Italian by the hand, told him that his grandfather was dead, and had left him all his money —more than £IO,OOO - and requested him to step over to the solicitors in Doctors’ Commons and receive the money. It was then insisted that M. Ferrers should accompany them, and after waiting half an hour the fortunate heir-at-law came back with the £IO,OOO, and immediately invited the party to dinner and wine. After dinner he presented M. Feners with his grandfather’s aluminium watch, and declared he meant going to Sydney with them. They met by appointment next day at the House of Commons, when the legatee produced a morocco hand bag, containing a thick Toll of notes, several rolls ot sovereigns and three bags of silver This he handed to M. Ferrers, who in return rgave him his purse, containing £53 10s and three passage notes to Sydney, valued £Bl, and some papers of value. This was in evidence of confidence on both sides. An appointment was made to meet again in four hours, and ■as the heir did not put in an appear nnco, M. Ferrers opened the bag, •which was found to contain a roll of “ Elegance” notes, three rolls of whist counters, and three bags of shot. After wandering about all night looking for his friends, M. Ferrers found bimseif with Is 3d in his pocket, and without a friend in London.— Dispatch.