Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1907-08-17
CONTINUED Next Week.)
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AN INVASION OF SWINDLERS.
IL is Said That There Are Schools o,
American Bunco Steerers in London.

From the London Express.
Don't on your life talk to strangers
this town Is packed with 'bunco-
steerers,' who are after your green
goods"
This, in substance, is the good ad-
vice-somewhat mystifying to British
ears--that experienced Americans are
giving to their countrymen newly ar
rived In London for the season. The
advice Is a very necessary warming
against the wiles OF the international
confidence tricksters, known i'm the
United states as "bunco- -steerers," who
are swarming in the metropolis In ac-
tive search Of the dollars and green
goods (bank notes) OF the unWary.
This year, because a record Ameri-
can tourist season Is expected these
swell mobSmen have rushed to London
In hundreds, and over dozen expert
gangs are known to be at work Al
ready the London police have received
many complaints from confiding Amer
leans who have trusted well dressed
strangers and lost their yaluables I'm
consequence.
These confidence trick men are the
arlstocracy Of the criminal classes"
said Scotland Yard official 10 an
EKprcsS Representatives. There are no
crooks in the world so daring and so
difficult TO bring to book They travel
Ike princes and many Of them sue
ceed In stealing more than the income
OF a cabinet minister
This year they arc up TO all manner
of new tricks, for they are always M
10 date and ready TO play any part To
NJ In with the seasons arrangements
Many OF hem pretend 10 be exhibiting
az me horse show, and some have the
impuGence to pose as multimlllionaires
or English aristocrats
Their m2instay however. IS the old
old trick of inspiring confidence. get
ting their wealthy victim off his guard
and then robbing him Of ali they can
lay hands on.
They are very hard 10 catch. for
more often than not The person robbed
refuses TO prosecute for fear the news
OF his folly will reach his friends at
home. IL annoys cute Yankee to let
others know some one has get the bet
ter OF him. even by a trick
They begin tnei- tricks directly the
liner. on which they engage salon
pertAs' leaves New York. In the smok-
ing roorns they play cards with ac-
completes until they have Induced 9th
ers to take hand. and then they start
TO make their passage money
"On their arrival I'm London the con-
hdence trick men usually engage rooms
at the best hotels. where they and
their INSCRIPTIONS methods are still
A'ihApN H. iAfNfs hItSSiUB immaculate
ly and living on the best, they await
their opportunities, and make the most
Of them when they come.
when a home-sick American is met
IN London by "A well-groomed. pros
porous, and aRable 'countrylnan.' who
by a strange chance. knows the old
home well. he is taken off his gqiard
at once II is not long after this that
on some prctext or other the American
~ induced TO show his valuabIes or
money and the rest is easy for HIS
new-found friend.
the chief stock in trade of these
rogueS is the arr Of inspiring conf
dence. They have even been known 10
deceive detectives,
One man who posed as a member OF
millionaire New York family scld =
string OF valuable horses last week ~
new arrival, who had ambitions 10
shine as the owner OF stock The only
flaw in the bargain, from the purchas-
ers point OF view was that thar after.
the confidence man had vanished with
the dollars 1t was discovered that tho
horses belonged to another ana re-
spectacle American"