TELLERS DUPED

Hokitika Guardian, 17 February 1933, Page 7

TELLERS DUPED

BY GREEK GIPSY’S HYPNOTISM. SIX MONTHS’ HARD LABOUR. AUCKLAND, Fobruary 16. Stephen S'.erio, aged do, an Aus-tralian-born Greek gipsy, was sent&uecd to-dav to six months’ bard labour for stealing, a total of £67 7s (id from four tellers in the city banks. 1 He pleaded guilty. The uro’iecu/.or read •statements mads by the* tellers that accused usually re- ! quested change for a note, and then | offered to tell his fortune. He crossed ? the teller’s hand with silver. I ' “Then,” .said one teller (who’s experience was typical), “be asked me to produce some paper money and after hesitation I brought some loose five and tens from the drawer and held them in front of me. I did not allow him to handle them. He held his two hands on my hand which held the notes and told me to look at him and repeat certain words such as “Bless me, bra:her.” He told me to keep looking at him, and lie then let go of my hand and told m 9: to blow on the | notes and 1 would win £9OO next | month. I cannot say for sure if he had ■ his hand on the notes. 1 felt a. funny sort of feeling which I cannot describe. '’ln checking up my cash I found £ls -'short.” Another teller said that he considered accused had employer! a conjuring trick to get money. All spoke of his steady stare. The police said'that accused had convictions in Australia and England. Tb.& Magistrate (Mr Hunt), asked how much money he had and the police replied that be had over £2OO. The Magistrate ordered the restitution of the money to the tellers.