TELLING A TALE

Hokitika Guardian, 19 March 1932, Page 2

TELLING A TALE

MAN WHO PESTERS WIDOWS. MAKES REQUEST FOR MONEY. (By Teleyraph—Per Press Association) AUCKLAND, March 17. A ruse which, if not providing a isgular income, is being adopted by a man whom the police are anxious ito interview, is causing not a little concern to more than one widow in the city and suburbs. Hi >s method of working is unusual. (Making use of 'the telephone, the man, who evidently has a knowledge of women in good positions who have lost their husbands, rings up and asks for Mrs So-and-so. On the lady answering, the caller commences a conversation about ‘her late husband, >with whom he (■blink- to have been on intimate terms of friendship. Oil getting the lady interef 1 - ed, he then asks if lie might call to talk over old times. His request is invariably granted, and later he turns up at the house. Once iiifide he soon makes it clear that he has considerable knowledge of her late husband, and gradually be works up to the real object of his visit. He tells a tale of hardship, unemployment, a wife and five children, a walk from:-Wellington in search of work, and frugal meals at rare intervals. Having got the sympathy of the widow, be loses no lime in suggesting 'that ■’ pound or so would be welcome. Four homes are known to have been entered in this manner—one in the city, two in the Herne Bay district and one in Onehunpa. In three cases the man lias been, successful in his efforts he-

cause the ladies have been frightened ; but in the fourth he was recognised and left without money. In the last-mentioned case -the lady was entertaining some friends to dinner, one of whom happened to be a widow who had been victimised. The telephone bell rang and jokingly the hostess turned to a guest, who had been telling of her experience, and said “There’s your man now.” The mail at the other end of the telephone was- told to come to the house and he arrived within half an hour. The hostess answered the door and asked him into the drawing room. When he'got inside she-.said, “I seem to know you. What do • you want.” The intruder commenced to tell his tale, and ,the lady, explaining that she had guests, said "W,ait a miinute and 1 w:ll see wlint ll can do for you.” She went to the dining room to call her fiiend to •identify the man. He evidently felt alarmed, and before she could get ,lc he had disappeared into the night.