New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-11-08
4 LONDON CONFIDENCE TRICK.

HOW AN AMERICAN JCDGE NARROWLY ESCAPED
ROBBERY IN TaE STRAND.
FROM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.
LONDON, Oct. 2O.-The reputation OF London
confidence men and sharpcrs IL well known They
have an excellent field for their work London is So
vast that difficult find them. even II the dsrec-
tiyes promptly upon their track and they change
quarters frequently Then the number OF visitors
this great Babylon is large that victims found
without much difficulty. As many Of these are tran
sient visitors, II tho bunco IHen-is they wsuld De
called In America; do not know what correspond
ing term Ia used here-make good "haul."
they leave the city lie in hiding until they feel sure
that their victims have gone Then they can not be-
Identified If arrested aud OF viii escape prose-
cution.
An American gentleman whom met The other day
told OF his from being robbed by what
[ am told IL AN old London trick" He Is a criminal
Judge OF your Southern States; aud one would
suppose that such official would be on his guard
against tricks OF all kinds He has boon In Loncon
many before his present visit amt thought he was
pretty familiar with the city and Its Let me re-
late his experience in his words.
have bean living. he SAID. 10 private Motel In
one OF the streets leading the strand the Thames,
from Temple Bar. 1t Is convenient place to
reach aud 1 found 1t comfortable aud
satisfactory An every way. have
been habit " going lodgings at all hours Of
the day and niyht was my way thher through
the Strand ABOUT O'Clock morning. and I'D almost
rea he'd TIA which hOte IL situated. when
saw far infrJnt OF ne apparently STAMP e
and fall to the sidewalk. She was alone. Sle cried out
II hurt aud h4steRed my steps and ran to her as
,istancc. helped her get up, but she complained OF
great pain ankle and could hardly stand she be-
gan to cry bitterly AMI said she didn't how sho was
to get home. asked her rhsre sue lived; she named
the street which knew moro than milo away.
toll her that would have to take cab and that
would call one Still crying aud complaining that she
was severely hurt she said c.ut take a cab a
she had money to pay for IL. Ny sympa
thlcs wcro aroused, and said that
would give her enough TO pay th'
calsfara. put my hand In my pocket and pulled gu
some sivor coins AT the same time stepped toward
gas-Amp In order to pick the right amount.
"Quick as a fash Of lightning the womln seized nv
wrist and ,oe OF tho rtttng do wn on tht
pavement At This moment three other women ap
pcarrd had seen nothing or them before They seized
me by aud Ind tho vast instantly con
prrhruded tne situation. | the victim of "A conn
drucr g me md was beng robbed-Ur would be in a
mOuIont unless made vigorous Resistance. had my
umbrella IN my htnd. | Struggled rihl+htIy win the
four womeu aud length MANAGE 10 break away from
thc,u artcd at fail speed for nv hOte ony
a few rods away Al Tho women weFa Ia not pursuit
You know all those stIests running from the strand
down u the river descend pretty rapidly, ani
way that | could stop when reached ms house
stopped Just below It, howeVer ana rita 10 nr, when
the women <eized me AGAIN. They pounded ana kcKe'
vciouoy. bat did not get anything OUT OF my pockets
/ |
but ain AFRAID they would have been more than mat
|
~ good fortune, however. while the struggle wa
goiug trout Of my hptc the door suddenly opened
and the landlord appeared IA H. told him needles
help AID lie came out The women then act upon nini
ana taking OF the opportunity, broke away
from them and At fuu speed into The l0tL FOUND
that my umbrella pretty badly used up. and MY
arms sns and body Tor several days Since
| then | have carried stout cans Whenever am ca
| late at night. / never asked the landlord how he
came out OF The fkht was too Glad 10 get away NY
sell h. bother about aim but FANCY he suffered hlc
| DAMAGE. I ouly lost few shlIin -
WAY did you not make an cutlery ana alarm tue po-
! meet" inquired.
"Ah," the answer, that was the very thing was
careful To- DOu'tYnl sec. ta-T were fuur 20 one
aud II ccInan had come The chances were mat they
would OF assault aud would be locked mp Tor
the night or II my s-OTy hal boon believed, tlcy
would spent tue night In the pc leo stltsu-a
consequence TO - woman OF tnai cass-~nd ii
thu matter further should ave 10 - u tue
police court to prosecute them did not carr for pub
iicity IN thlt way oh no. diut want the police Ia
have any hand the mLtt'r 50 far ~ was CONCERNED
You may think stupil to he taken liz ny such
trek Ueen told since that II Is trek Ver con-
mOuly practlscd IN LONDON hut had never hearl oi u
before. | that IL would readily impose on any
| une IN W OF IL