An Ingenious Swindle.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 31 March 1910, Page 4

An Ingenious Swindle.

HOODWINKING EXTRAOUDIN

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The story of one of the cleverest devices ever employed to make money easily and at'the expense of other's has been told, by a London correspondent. Some time ago a gentleman of excellent manner and address called upon a prominent West End firm of jewellers and asked to be shown some unique article appropriate as a betrothal Rift to the lady he was to marry. He was not particular about the expense; what lie insisted on was something right out of the ordinary. The bend of the firm, scouting a good customer, produce:! a black pearl of exceptional beauty and rarity, and after some-bargaining the jewel changed hands for £2000. The purchaser tendered a cheque but said he would not dream of asking the firm to accept it until it had been cashed, and went away promising to call for the pearl on the following day. This he did, and the bank having at once honoured the cheque, he departed apparently well-satisfied with his deal, tie refused to give an, address: he was, .he said, only passing through London. A few months later lie again entered the shop, and was at once recognised, and, at his request, waited upon by the head of the firm. Ho thereupon said that the lady for whom he had bought the black pearl, had since become his wife, and he was now most anxious to obtain, a match for it so that the two might be set in a pair of earrings. Tb.3 jeweller was keenly interested but he had to confess the extreme unlikelihood of a quest for a second pearl of the same dimensions and quality being successful. The stranger, who, by the way, spoke English excellently but with a slight French accent, and was apparently a French-American, was much chagrined at this announcement; but after some. discussion the jeweller consented to place- an .advertisement, together with a photograph of the jewel, in a trade journal,'stating that up to £3500 would be paid for its mate. A few weeks afterwards when tlio trade was still keenly on the alert for a pearl of the unusual description wanted, a second noted "West End firm of jewellers had a call from a gentleman who spoke Froneh fluently. Hβ said that he had for sale a large black p&arl of great beauty. The firm was at once interested, and comparing the jewel with the on© advertised for by its friendly rivals, found that the two were an extraordinary match. The price ttsked was £3500 but a purchase was effected for £3000. Certain that the pearl would be accepted by the advertisers at £3500, the buying firm at once entered into negotiations with them, believing that the_ only difficulty would be the ..equitable cutting np of the margini of £500. There was, of course, only one pearl in the two transactions, and the two jewellers are now: anxious to hear something about the ingenious French-American. .; . /