THAT TENNER.

NZ Truth, Issue 145, 28 March 1908, Page 5

THAT TENNER.

MR. WATSON FROM NEW

ZEALAND.

The Confidence Man Bobs Up.

The Weary YigiUon the New Zealand

Wharf.

Of late there has been somewhat of a lull m the business of the confidence man, but as rf s by way of breaking the dull monotony of thhugs, he turned up smiling m the Water Police Court oh Tuesday, says Sydney "Truth." The worthy m question was listed on the sheet as Alexander White, alias Alfred Smith, or James, and he was charged with stealing by means of a trick, on. November 1-, 1907, the sum of £10 from Henry Smjth, a groom. The latter said that -he resided at Ellis's Coffee Palace, and as far back as the date mentioned, while taking a constitutional m Hyde Park, . he met a man with whom lie made an r appointment to go to South Head. Later this "gentleman" took Witness to Wynward-square, where they MET ANOTHER "GENTLEMAN," who ;was introduced to 'prosecutor as "Mr' Watson from New Zealand." "Mr Watson from New Zealand" was said to be a surveyor, and accused engaged witness to go to the Dominion m order to take some horses back to Maoriland. Then the man with the tripersonal moniker asked witness to wait until he (accused) went to the Bank and cashed a cheque. Mr White, or Sr/-^T. or James then proceeded, as he said, on his mission, that of converting a "-bit of paper" into hard, brig-lit, shining coin of the realm. Shortly after he returned, saying that the Bank was not open. Accused and "Mr -Watson from New Zealand" then asked the prosecutor to CASH A CHEQUE for twenty quid, biit witness hadn't so much rex-pecuniarium about him. However, he obliged them to the extent of a tenner. Now, it so happened at this juncture that accused and "Mr Watson frota New Zealand" had an . appointment elsewhere, so they parted with witness with the express understanding .that they would • meet again on the New Zealand boat, which was to start at 8 that evening. Witness, true to the tryst, was on hand, but it was evidently a case of "WHEN SHALL WE THREE MEET AGAIN ?" He waited till 10.45, but accused and "Mr Watson from New Zealand" appeared not. The police were made acquainted with the details, and after long and weary watching, accused eventually fell into their clutches last week.' The three-named bloke, who pleaded guilty, was sentenced to six months' imprisonment with hard ■labor. If this should meet the eye of '-'Mr Watson from New Zealand," and he will communicate with the police here, he may hear of something to x iis disadvantage.