The Confidence Trick.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3720, 13 October 1906, Page 3

The Confidence Trick.

Dunedin, Oct. n. Three men, well dressed, strangers to Dunedin, were arrested to-day on a charge of obtaining £l7O from an old man named Joseph Dickenson by means of a confidence trick. They gave the names of Wiliam Henry Mitchell, William Me Pherson and Patrick Ohferkuch. They had on them about £IOO when arrested. Dickenson came to town on Saturday, On Monday lie met a man near the Arcade who entered into conversation with him. The stranger claimed to be in business Dickenson wanted work, and the stranger said he had a friend from Gisborne who wanted a man. They went to the Gridiron Hotel, but the man from Gisborne did not want anyone, and the parties had a drink. A third man entered. He was very wealthy, and had come from Ceylon. The rich man commenced wagering about a trick in which five pieces of paper were used. The thing was apparently so simple that Dickenson was induced to engage in the game. Before doing so, however, he drew £166 he had in the Savings Bank, making with £4 on him £l7O. The four men then went to another hotel, and it was not long before Dickenson’s £l7O was in the hands of the man from Ceylon, who then left. One of the other strangers stayed in the restaurant with Dickenson, and it was arranged that Dickenson should go to Gisborne.' He was given a steerage ticket from Lyttelto Wellington, and a railway ticket to Lyttelton. Two of the men saw him off by the train. But the old man had become suspicious, and, on leaving the train at Port Chalmers, he returned to Dunedin, and informed the police. Detectives at once got to work, and, with the aid of Dickenson, the three men were arrested to-day. They will be charged at the Police Court to-morrow.