The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-10-03
THE INIPERIsHABLE IDIOT.

Nothing is more wonderful to a man
who considers this an enlightened age,
and who boasts of the rapid advance
Of intelligence and education, than to
read in the daily papers the reports Of
confidence games that are constantly
worked upon the unWary. We know
that there is q whole army of unscru-
pulous gentry in the country who live
wits. One cannot help being entertain
ed by their fertility of invention in
devising constantly new schemes for
swindling the public. There is real
genius in some of the plans that they
have worked out for compass unlaw-
full gains. 1t is not these, however,
that surprise us, but the fact that there
is no confidence scheme SO ancient so
thoroughly ventilated and so imbecile
on it's face that it cannot find plenty of
victims. The old adage of the gambler,
that there is a sucker born every min
ute, seems to be literally true; and the
ages cannot add wisdom to the mental
furnishing of the imperishable idiot.
Take, for instance, the scheme that
has been worked with most success
recently in this city. It is what is
called 1.-The lock game and a more
infantile device never suggested itself
to the mind of man. 1t is hard to be-
lieve that any man outside of an asy-
lum for detectives could be taken in
by it, To make it work it is necessary
for the victim to be accosted and en-
gagged in conversation by a stranger
Then the two engage in a stroll about
the city, when they are met by a third,
who carries in his hand what looks like
lock of rather peculiar construction.
The two confidence men practice try
ing to open this lock, and one of them
seems to know how, while the other
full fellow gives the tip to the stranger,
While the other vainly wrestles with
the lock. Not being able to open it, ne
offers to bet S. that the victim cannot.
Either of two results may follow. Some
spring may be touched in the lock that
sets the bolt so that the man loses his
bet. Most generally, however, third
confederate appears on the scene at
this stage. throws back the lapel Of
his coat. exposing an officers star, and
places the whole party under imaginary
arrest for violating an alleged ordi-
nance against gambling. Rather than
be locked up In strange city and sent
to prison for an unknown term, the fool
usually gives up all the money he has
about him.
1t would seem utterly impossible,
when one Studies this plan on its mer-
its. that it should work with any
body. The bunsp man has become SO
universally recognized, and has been
exposed and explained so often in the
newspapers and the police courts, that
everybody 5might be supposed to be
onto him. 1o-Nof liiis Sdiiie INC VIZ
tim must permit himself to be drawn
into close association with two entire
strangers, and aqust make bet of a
considerable SUP of money on con-
trivance about which he knows nothing.
He must believe that all this is genuine.
and he must be- ignorant of the fact
that the game has been played on
somebody every day for unknown
years. 1t goes on just the same, and
meets with unusual and apparently in
creasing success. Legislation against
crime appears to be confronted with a
new and stupendous problem. 1t can
! deal with the law-breaker easily ana