CONFIDENCE TRICK CHARGE.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20254, 24 July 1937, Page 16 (Supplement)

CONFIDENCE TRICK CHARGE.

Paid £320 for Stars to Bring Him Love.

A remarkable story of how a gipsy obtained £BIO from a 78-years-old retired farmer by promising that she would oonsult the planets to bring baok to him a young village woman he wanted to marry was told at Mllnthorpe, England, last month. Mrs Mary Duokworth, a hawker, was charged with stealing by a trick from Edward Thompson Dickinson, of Rose Cottage, Clawthorpe, Burton, £BIO, one gold watoh, four silver watches, and other articles, to the total value of £320. This charge was dismissed, but on a oharge of using a crystal she was fined £ls. Hand on Crystal. Dickinson, a widower, said Duokworth called on him, and he told her about a woman who sometimes passed his oottage whom he would like to look after him. Saying she would oonsult the planets and bring her to him, Duokworth produced a crystal, asked for £lO, and ordered him to put his hand on the glass.

“I had only £2 in the house, but she said she would call for the other eight,” he said. "I got it from the bank and gave it to her. “A few days later she oalled and said she wanted £2OO, as the planets would not work for £lO. She asked ,1110 how muoh I had in the bank and I told her nearly £4OO. I drew the £2OO and gave It to her. “The following week she wanted another £IOO as the planets were not working very well, and I handed it over. She said she would bring the money back on Tuesday, June 15, If the woman mentioned was not friendly by that time.” A Lamb to the Slaughter. Cross-examined by Mr Louis Godlove, Diokinson agreed he had been led like a lamb to the slaughter. Diokinson added that the polloe went to a gipsy encampment at Appleby Fair aud saw Duokworth, who handed over all the money and articles. Duckworth, in evidence, said she had no intention of keeping the money.