CONFIDENCE MEN

Hokitika Guardian, 16 May 1931, Page 6

CONFIDENCE MEN

NOW ACTIVE IN MELBOURNE. “NOTES-FOR-GOLD” TRICK. Taking advantage of the exchangeposition, confidence men have been active in Melbourne lately with a'variation of the notes for gold trick. Pretending to be able to change Australian notes for English notes on their face value, despite the adverse exchange position, the tricksters secured £45 from a- Swiss a month ago, and £6O from another traveller shortly afterwards.

A third victim informed the police on March 6 of his experience with the confidence men. James Entwistle, an immigrant, reported to the police that as a result of hard times he had been experiencing in Australia he decided to return to England with his crippled sister. He had been out of work for the past eight months, and decided to book his sister’s passage in a steamer and to attempt to work his own passage Home. He visited the steamer Port Melbourne to see if lie could get a job. Returning to the city in the train, Mr Entwistle met a man who asked him the way to North Melbourne market. Mr Entwistle promised to direct him to the North Melbourne tram when they reached the city. At Flinders Street station they were both approached by another man who asked the way to the Bank of New South Wales. This man stated that he intended to go to England, and, by a coincidence, was also travelling in the same steamer as Mr Entwistle. The third man said he had a brother-in-law in the Bank of New South Wales who would change'his Australian notes into English notes without charging exchange, which was very heavy. He asked Mr Entwistle if ho wanted English money also. Mr Entwistle said he would he glad of it. On leaohing the bank the stranger said that there were only a limited number of English notes available, hut ha thought he could change £2B for Sir

Entwistle. The latter, who had £6O in his possession, gave the stranger t'- K to change for him. The man went into the hank, but did not return. After waiting some time it dawned upon Mr Entwistle that lie had been tricked. He then reported his experience to the police.