THE CONFIDENCE TRICK.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 82, 15 April 1901, Page 2

THE CONFIDENCE TRICK.

PROJECTED HAUL OF £2,500.

Three weeks ago, there came to Wellington a gentlemanly-looking, business-like person with the manners and accent of a Yankee. liis bearing was polite, and calculated to inspire confidence in commercial circles. ' He gave out that ho was Mr Lister, the representative of the great Ne\y York firm of Thornbury, Wyland, and Go., whose annual business amounted to untold millions of dollars, and who, having been struck with the wonderful resources of New Zealand and its commercial products, had conceived the idea of establishing branches of the firm in the capital of the colony. Ho proceeded to engage offices in a central part of the city, ordered sumptuous furniture, an electric light installation, a telephone and other accessories of civilisation, finding no difficulty in obtaining credit. Having also armed himself with cir- | eular letters purporting to have been I issued by the New York firm, but | which as a mater of fact are said to have been printed in Wellington, he proceeded to advertise for travellers, clerks, a" ’ shorthand writer, typewriter, and messenger, in’’short a coin plefe staff equal to the demands of ‘a very extensive,...'business. ’Candidates were to send by post formal applications, with testimonials, etc. In reply" they were invited to present themselves at the office at different hours and interview the manager. The latter pointed out the magnitude and importance of the business, ttie ynormous sums that would pass through the hands ot responsibility that would bo tni r JIV. n u POn the traveller::, and the absolute necessity tor those gentlemen ’.whose seryjcea might be accepted, of course, at tempting salaries, of lodging a sum of money as a friendly fund, a system which was said to be one of the indispensable principles upon wbicb the eminent millionaire firm in New York conducted its business. Several engaged were at varying rates of fidelity security. One paid a cheque for £25, with a promise of a further like sum after the lapse of a month. Another paid £2 as a deposit on LIOO. A third, dazzled by the prospect of princely remuneration, short hours of work, and periodical increments of salary, was willing to pay down LSOO towards the fidelity fund when the necessary arrangements for raising that amount should have been completed. A fourth applicant declared that he' would very willingly deposit LIOOO “if the transaction were conducted in a businesslike way through Kis banker.” So far everything was going smoothly for the New Zealand branch of Thorbury, Wyland, and Co., and its very enterprising manager. All the men who could pay in any sum, from a few pounds upwards, were conditionally engaged. About ,£2500 was forthcoming to the fidelity fund, and a numerous staff was to begin work. Gradually Detective Nixon got on the track. Lister’s offices were searched, and a large quantity of correspondence was discovered. Had be been allowed to mature his scheme, it is alleged he would have got away with probably £2OOO to £2500. Search showed that the millionaire firm was mythical. Lister has made a clean breast of the whole business. He is in custody,