GUMDIGGER AND CONFIDENCE MEN.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1417, 30 March 1905, Page 3

GUMDIGGER AND CONFIDENCE MEN.

A DESPERATE ENCOUNTER

Molbourno, March 21. Tho foot that a Now Zonlaud gumdiggor had boon “ taken down “ by confidence tuea in Molbourno for £172 was only mado known to'tho local dotootivo oflioo a oouplo of days ago, yet, with a smart display of poroovoranco and energy, Dotootivos Ban* non and Morcor wore ablo yesterday to ofleet tho arrest of two mon who havo boon identified' an two of the gang who porpotraiod tho fraud. Ulho arrest of one of tho mon was only effected after a straggle of a most sensational character, ia which some hard knooks wero adminis-

tored on both sides. Tho facts of the oaso wore that Vinoont Hulyioh, aged 2S, an Austrian, had spcul seven years at the gumdigging business in New Zealand, and, having amassed *172 by btiL'cl wo vie i bo dotormiued to bring bia sister out to join him iu his adopted country. Accordingly ho tools boat to Sydnoy, and caught tho Gorman mail steamer Bremen there. On tho trip to Melbourne ho mot ou oflfablo fellow passenger, who confided to him that ho had *2O, and means to took well after it. Hulyioh tola tho affablo ono, who gave tho name of John Williamson, that he had *172, and would keep a tight hold of it. On reaohing fort Mol’oourno last - Monday, Williamson proposed a waib. On going along Beuch street Williamson recognised a 11 firstclass 1 ’ passenger, and introduced him to Hulyioh. Tho third man soon informed tho others that ho had *SOO about him, and pulled but a roll of notes to confirm

fcho statement. The throo walkod along to the Beaconsfield Hotel, nt St. Kilke, where a drink was proposed. Whilst they were in tho hotel tbo .third man of the swindlers made an appearance, f\nd in a few moments Hulyich had been 11 cased ** of his £172 by the old, old trick of the rich planter from Tbo usual procedure of getting tho vicsim to sign a cheque for a largo amount, ana frightening him by threats of having committed forgery, was successfully worked, and tho Austrian was then “shanghaied, passage paid, to Sydney. Thoro fenow countryman took, him to tho police, who i sent him back to Melbcurne, and advised j

I tho deiectivo office by telegraph. I He reached Melbourne on Wednesday, I and Detectives Banuon aud Mercer, bavI ing seme idea from the descriptions that I they could tr&oa tho msu, wore given j charge of the case. They pursued their j investigations throughout the night, and I their prolonged efforts resulted in iho I arrest of two of tho suspects. Tho first of I these, a well-known loog-semanco man I named Frederick Perkins, alias MarsdsD, I was apprehended in a small wooden cottage lin Graham-street, Albert Park. The | woman wbo opened the door to the dotec- [ tives denied that anybody was on the j premises except herself, but tho detectives pushed their way in, and fouud the man in a back room* Ho was subsequently

identified by tho Austrian as ono of the men who had victimised him. Detectives Baanon and Mercer then proceeded to a boarding house in the Boaoonsfield Parade, Albe.t Park, whore they found the second of the suspects. This was only done after knocking at the doors of at least 20 houses. At tho last house they inquired for dames Wilson or Williamson, believed to be the first of the conspirators. Detective Bannon disclosed his identity to tho landlady, to her great

shock, and crept softly up to Williamson’s room. 11 Who’s there?” was the reply to his knock. The detective whispered the rums of the man previously apprehended —Marsden—and the door was quiokly opened. Th 9 two detectives walked in, and Bannon informed the astounded Williamson that ho wa3 under arrest. 'He was told to dress himself, and as he did so his captors searched the room. Between tho flock and wim mattresses was found PIOO in notes and gold, which Bannon placed in his pocket. " Look here,” said Williamson, when ho saw that his treasure had coma to light, “ you can have tho money ;

let me go.” Tho bribo was peremptorily declined. "Then,” declared Williamson,

who was by this time dressed, “ you s shan’t taka me. I’ll not go. I’d sooner ba well shot dead than bo put in,” With this Williamson rushed at Bannon, and brought him down with a terrific kick in the pit of tho stomach.

Mercer grappled ituth tho ruffian, and a fierce struggl9 ensued. The suspect, a powerful, well-built young man, fought with desperate determination. Mercer had succeeded in getting oh one handcuff, but tho man being large in tho wrist he could not fit tbo other on. This enabled Williamson to swing tho handcuffs ar.d to administer hard knocks to both detectives, Bannon having in tho meantime rooovered hie wind and joined in tho struggle. The suspect kicked and bit, and the detectives had literally to boat him into submission. Eventually ho was overpowered and taken to the Middle Park police station. The furniture nod crockery in tho room were smashed in the fight, and both prisoner I and captors bled profusely. Williamson, who ia 28 years of age, and described as a canvasser, was subsequently takon to tho city watch-house, where he and Perkins, aged 52, and described as a hairdresser, were charged with conspiring to defraud | Hulyich of £172.

A warrant has been issued for the arrest lof the third man. Two years ago Bannon I and Mercer wero successful in arresting I two confidence men at Port Melbourne, I where they recovered the whole, of the I stolen property.

This latest case bears remarkable similarity to that reported in the Age of the I Ist inst-., when a gang of Sydney Bpielers I took down a French gumdiggor named I Lopez, at Hobart, for £l4l, and then sent I him on to Melbourne by boat. I The presont accused, however, are not I supposed to be identioal with tho men who I eased Lopez of his money.