THE MATCH-BOX TRICK.
AN EXTRAOHDINABY CASE OF IMPOSITION. Another ease in which the match-box trick was used to dope two unfortunate individuals oat of £170 came under the notice of the Melbourne City Bench re» cently. Three prisoners, Henry Lewis, Ti omas Carmody and James Irvrin, had been arrested about a week ago and remanded on bail of two sureties of £100 each and themselves in £100 each, till yesterday. On the case being called on Irwin presented himself, but the other offenders did not answer to their names. The Bench, which was presided over by the Mayor of Melbourne, ordered the bail to be estreated, but it is doubtful if the money will be realised. The char, t against James Irwin of being a rogue and a vagabond was then proceeded with. A seafaring man named Dowdall related a stoiy which seems almost incredible, of how he was cheated out of £100 by the three prisoners. He first met Carmody in Bourke-street on the morning of Dec* ember 20, and after a few drinks hit newly acquired friend revealed to him]
the secret under the strictest confidence, that he was a millionaire of New Z >aland and as he had taken a fancy to DowdaU be proposed that they should travel in each other's company during their stay in Melbourne. Dowdall, believing that ha had become povgessed of a genuine friend told him in confidence (hit he had 150 sovereigns in a bag. Carmody, in » friendly way warned him against •spielers.' They parted company be. fore midday with strict injunctions from Carmody to meet h : .m again at 2 p.m. in Bourke street. The appointment war kept by both parties, and nn adjournment made to tbe Adam and Eve Hotel Little Collins street East. Here Carmdoy played the role of host, and shortly afterwards Irwin, with a considerable) display of jewellery and a very gentle* manly exterior, introduced himself into> (be party. His manner, was so taking: that the seafaring man believed him to be a thorough gentlemaa, and in fact spoke of him under that term in bis evidence. The conversation had not lasted many minutes when Irwin informed the company that he bad challenged a sea captain to open a match box. for a satn of £100, and (hat he was foolish enough to throw away the chance of making money so easily. Ho banded the box to the NewZealand millionaire, Carmndy, who* openedand closed it with the greatest ease, and said it could not be a trick one. It was then given to Dowdall, wbo was also able to open and close it at pleasure. Irwin then in a jocular manner, bet Dowdall £100 that he would not open it, bat: tbe honesty of the seafaring man was* so great that be refused to take a mean advantage of his opponent As Irwin pressed him, he accepted a bet of £60; The money was staked and tbe New* Zealand millionaire appointed stakeholder, with, of coarse, the result that Pow* dall could not open tbe box. Carmody then, on behalf of DowdaN, tried to open it, and £50 more of Dowdall'i money was staked, with the like result. E. Lewis had come in shortly before the expert* ment on tbe matcb»box trick and was appointed by unanimous consent referee. Dowdall was now left by tbe trio be« moaning the loss of his money. Another dupe in tbe person of Mr M'Clore, front Bchuea, was also victimised oat of £70> at another period. The bench adjourned tbe case for a week, in order that efforts might be made to arrest the other men.
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Inangahua Times, Volume II, Issue II, 9 March 1881, Page 2
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605THE MATCH-BOX TRICK. Inangahua Times, Volume II, Issue II, 9 March 1881, Page 2
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