"SPANISH PRISONER" TRICK.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3553, 16 August 1920, Page 5

"SPANISH PRISONER" TRICK.

DUPES OP ANCIENT DEVICE. One of the oldest types of confidence trick swindles, in a slightly varied form, has been -exposed in an official pdlice warning issued by the Chief Constable of Wolverhampton, though the attentions of the perpetrators have by no rnjeans been confined to the provinces. Letters have been addresssd to persons in all parts of the United Kingdom telling a pitiful taHo of the incarceration of a wealthy Spanish nobleman whose political activities had brought him into contact with the authorities.

The prisoner, so it w r as told, had a beautiful young daughter to be provided for,- but for the time being was unable to obtain access to her father’s great weallth, owing to his fortunje and treasure having been impounded. Upon the faith of this story credulous persons have been induced to forward money, having been assured that they would in due course receive a portion of th’e treasure when the bogus daughter’s claims had been satisfied. Needless to say, they have heard nothing further of thje matter.