Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1885-11-28
ALoNDON. CONFIDENCE TRICK.

ALoNDON. CONFIDENCE TRICK.
, How aD American Judge Narrowly e
, cap d Robbery in the Strand.
! n. Y. Tribune
The reputation of London conSdenc
men and sharpers is well known. TIE
have an excellent field to work in. Jon
don is 80 vast that it is difficult to j,,u
them, even if the detectives are pron >
ly upon their tracks, and they cha
their quarters frequently. Then, t..
number of visitors to this great Babylo,
is 20 large that victims are found with
out much difficulty. AS many of thes,
are transient visit cre, If the bunco men
as they would be called in America; 1 d.
not know what corresponding term i,
used here-make q good "haul," they
leave the city or lie in hiding until they
fee, sure that their victims have gone
Then they cannot be identified, If ar.
rested, and of course will escape prosecu.
ton.
An American gentleman whom 1 met
the other day told me of his narrow es-
cape from being robbed by what 1 am
told is an "old London trick" He is a
criminal judge in one of the southern
states; and one would suppose that such
an official would be on his guard against
tricks of all kinds. He has been in Lon
don many times before his present visit,
and thought he was quite familiar with
the city and it's ways.
Let me relate his experience in his
own words:
Il have been living" he said, Gin q
private hotel in one of the streets lead
ing from the strand to the Thames, not
far from Temple Bar. It is conven-
lent place to reach and l found it COM
Portable and satisfactory in every way. I
have been in the habit of .oiDg to my
lodgings at all hours of the day or night.
| was on my way thither through the
Strand about o'clock one morning, and
had almost reached the street in which
my hotel is situated, when I saw a wom-
an not far in front of me apparently
stumS Die and fall to the sidewalk. She
was alone. She cried out as if hurt, and
| fastened my steps and ran to her as
sistance. helped her up, but she COM
planned Of great pain in her ankle, and
could hardly stand. She began to cry
bitterly, and said she didn't see how she
was to get home. l asked her where
she lived; she named the street, which
l knew was more than mile away. l
told her that she would have to take
cab, and that would call one.
Still crying and complaining that she
was severely hurt, she said that she
could not take cab, as she had no mon
ey to pay for it. My sympathies were
aroused and said that would give her
enough to pay her cab-fare. put my
hand in my pocket and pulled out some
silver coins. At the same time / stepped
towards gas lamp in order to pick out
the right amount.
Quick as fash of lightning the wom-
an seized my wrist, and some of the |
ment. At this moment three other
women appeared. l had seen nothing
of them before. They seized me by the |
arms and around the waist. instantly |
the situation. l was a |
victim of confidence game, and was
being robbed-or would be in moment
unless l made vigorous resistance. l |
had my umbrella in my hand. 1 strug-
gled violently with the four women, and |
1T length managed to break away from
them. l started on run at sull speed |
Tor my hotel, only few rods away. All
he women were in hot pursuit. You
know all those streets running from the
strand down to the river descend pretty
.apidly, and as was going down got
lnder such Roadway that could not
'tcp when l reached the house.. l
stopped below it, however, and tried to
urn, when the women seized me again.
They pounded and kicked me vigorously
)ut did not get anything out of my pock-
IT'S. 1 used my hands and feet and UNI
)rella as best l could, but am afraid
hey would have been more than a
match for me-.
By good fortune, however, while the
truggle was going on in front of my no.
el, the door suddenly opened and the
andlord appeared. in it. told him 1
leeded help, and he came out. The
women then set upon him, and taking
advantage of the opportunity, 1 broke
nto the hotel. 1 found that my UNI
,rella was pretty badly used up,and my
rms and shins and body were sore for
everal days. Since then l have carried
stout cane whenever 1 am out late at
light. never asked the landlord how
10 came out of the light. was too glad
o get away myself to bother about MIN;
ut l fancy he suffered little damage. l
My lost few shillings."
"Why did you not make an outcry and
Iarm the police?" inquired.
"Ah," was the answer, "that was the
cry thing was careful not to do. Don't
ou see, they were four to one, and, if
policeman had come, the chances were
hey would have accused me of assault
nd 1 would be locked up for the night
)r, if my story had been believed, they
would have spent the night in the po-
ice station-a matter of no consequence
o a woman of that class-and, if the
natter had gone further, l should have
o 60 to the police court to prosecute
hem. l did not care for publicity in
hat way. Oh, no, didn't want the poe
ice to have any hand in the matter, so
ar as l was concerned. You may think
was stupid to be taken in by such a
rick. / have been told since it was a
rick very commonly practiced in Lon
lon, but had never heard of it before.
am sure it would readily impose on
ny one who was ignorant of it."
An Old Squirrel Story, Newly Dressed,
(Gs Herald.
1t wasn't many Saturdays ago that a
lumber of gentlemen standing upon the
treets at Greensboro discussed OK
uniting. bird hunting and kindred