NEW METHODS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 122, 9 June 1937, Page 11

NEW METHODS

Confidence Men "RACKET" IN RACQUETS SYDNEY, May 28. Confidence tricksters are active i| Sydney. Their audacity reminds the police .that Australia can produce plausible irogues who sometimes attain internatibnal notoriety. Detectives are huntiug a "gentleman''' who has devolopcd a "racket" in tennis racquets. He is faultlessly dress•ed, and his maimers are perfect. In suburban sports stores he seeks to buy a racquet. He is in no hurry and while testing one after another from stock, gains the confidence of the proprietor by gentlemanly talk and general air of breeding. Finally he selects a good raCquet and tells the ohopkeeper that he is buying it for his daughter. He asks that it be sent to a nearby address on the following day. By this time the shopkeeper is thor* oughly impressed, and when his custom,er produces a cheque bearing the name of a big city firm and countersigned importantly by directors, he does not hesitate to cash it at the ' 'gentleman 's" request. It is only for £5 odd, and the "gentleman," having paid for the racquet, receives#£3 odd change. He leaves the shop in the friendliesfc fashion — and vanishes. The shopkeeper later finds that the cheque is worthless. Another gentleman of similar habitsi recently entered a city firm and proceeded to order a houseful of furniture "for his.place in the country. ' ' He said that he had arranged fot a xail van to be at Central Station on the followiag day. His manner also was impressive and his appearance prosperous. Finally, when the long list of items had been tofalled, he wrote a cheque, "inadvertpntly" adding £2 "to the amount. " Tut, tut," he said, when the assistant directed his attention to the error. "Oh, never mind. I'm a bit short to-day. Give me the £2 change, if you will." i Pleased with the big order, the assistant inade no demur, and the confidence man walked out £2 to the good. His cheque, of course, was valueless. In the.case brought to police notice the city firm actually took the goods up to the station, but could not find the rail van! '