A COLONIST FLEECED IN LONDON.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1019, 19 October 1882, Page 1

A COLONIST FLEECED IN LONDON.

Information has been given at the chief office of the A Division of the Metropolitan Police, King-street, Westminster, of the following remarkably well-planned and successfuly-executed swindle by means of what is known as the ' confidence trick.' From the information given by the victim, a Monsieur Ferrers, a resident i* l Sydney, iNew South Wales, it appears that he arrived in London from Sydney last week, for the purpose of taking back to the colony two young relatives. On Monday last whilst standing on tli3 platform of the Victoria station, he was accosted by a well-dressed person, who asked him if he spoke Italian. He replied in the affirmative, when, after some further conversation it was proposed that M. Ferrers, his two friends, and the stranger should go into the House of Commons and Westminster Abbey, the stranger telling him that he had a free pass over both places, night or day. They went, and after visiting the Committee Itooms of the House and going over the Abbey they parted, making aii appointment to meet next day. On Tuesday the four met at 10 o'clock, and proceeded to St Paul's, and whilst there they were joined by an elderly 1 gentleman,' who said chat he was an old colonist, and remembered M, Ferrers' face in Sydney, that he had been three months in London, and was sick of it, and meant returning to Sydney by the , naming a ship that happened to be the very one that Monsieur Ferrers was returning in with his friends. This intelligence jwoving so very pleasant, the old ' gentleman ' joined the party, and whilst looking at the monuments a young man rushed up and seized the gentleman, who spoke Italian, by the hand, told him that his grandfather was dead, and had left him all his money—more than £IO,OO0 —and requested him to step over to the solicitors in Doctors' Commons and receive the money. It was then insisted that M. Ferrers should accompany them, and, after waiting half-an-hour, the fortunate heir-at-law came back with the £IO,OOO and immediately invited the party to dinner and wine. After dinner he presented M. Ferrers with his grandfather's aluminium watch, and declared he meant going to Sydmy with them. They met by appointment next day at the House of Commons, when the legatee produced a morocco hand-bag, containing a thick roll of notes, several rolls of sovereigns, ami three bags of silver. This lie handed to M. Ferrers, who in return gave him ids purse, containing £52 10s and thro--! passage-notes for Sydney, value £Bl, and some papers of value. This was in evidence of confidence on both sides. An appointment was made to meet again in four hours, and as the heir did not put in an appearance, M, Ferr' rs opened the bag, which was found to contain a roll of Elegance notes, three roils of whist counters, and three bags of shot. After wandering about all night looking for his .friends, M. Ferrers found himself with Is 3d iu his pocket, and without a friend in London.