THE CONFIDENCE TRICK.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8259, 12 October 1906, Page 6

THE CONFIDENCE TRICK.

By Telegraph—Press Association. , DUNEDIN, Ootober 11. Three men, well dressed, stranger to Dunediu, were arrested, to-day. on a charge of obtaining £l7O from an old man, named Joseph Diokeuson, by means of the confidence trick. They gave the names of William Henry Mitchell, William McPherson and Patrick Ottferkuob. They had on them about £IOO when arrested. Diokenson came to town on Saturday. On Monday he met a man, near the Arcade, who entered into conversation with him, the stranger claiming to be in business. Dickenson wanted work, and the stranger bo id he had a friend from Gisborne who wanted e 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, having come from Ceylon a rich man. He commenced wagering about a trick in wfaioh five pieces of paper were used. The thing was apparently so simple that Diokenson was induced to engage in a game, before doing so, however, be drew £166 he had in the Savings Bank, malting,, with £4 on him, £l7O. The four then went to another hotel, an 3 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 j stayed in the restaurant with Diokenson and it was arranged that j Diokenson should go to Gisborne. I He was given a steerage ticket from j Lyttelton to Wellington, and a railway ticket to Lyttelton, the j two men seeing him off by the train. ! But the old man had beaome suspicious, and left the train at Port Chalmers. He returned to Dunedin and informed the police. The de- ! teotives at once got to work, and ] with the pid of Dickenson the three men were arrested to-day, and will j be charged at the Police Court tomorrow.