The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-05-03
TRICKS OF CROOKS

From the New York Sun
Many perfectly innocent man or wom-
an has found himself or herself in seri-
Gus trouble in New York without mo-
and traps baited each day for the un-
wary
One trap, which almost caught a man
old enough to know better, was sprung at
a subway station recently. While a
crowd was waiting for a train a well
dressed young man stepped up to an ell
derly man and said quietly:
'Ill trouble you to return that money
you just took out of my pocket"
What do you mean?" asked the older
man in astonishment.
THAT sS2 you robbed me Of" said the
younger man. Give it up"
A policeman walked up and the young
man soon explained the trouble
do you accuse that man of robbing
you?" asked the policeman.
YES" said the young man. That man
stood near me, and now | remember he
jostled me several times. He has my
money"
This the other Indignantly denied, but
he was nevertheless taken to the police
station. There the desk sergeant asked
how much money the young man had
lost.
'Fiftytwo dollars" was the reply.
The old man was searched and a roll
of his bills containing just s52 was discov-
cred. In another pocket he had 50 and
some change. In vain he protested that
he was a reputable business man and
sent messenger for friends When things
looked mighty black foT him he ex-
claimed:
why, I just drew that $50 from the
bank" and showed the stub in his check
book.
The desk sergeant called policeman
from the rear room.
collins, do you see any one here you
lSnow?H
YES" said Collins, pointing to the
young man. that's Jimmie, the slick pick
pocket, just out last month"
The young man saw the game was up
and confessed. He had seen the old man
draw the money from the bank and
thought when he accused him, and could
be so accurate as to the amount, that his
victim would give up the money rather
than be arrested.
'It was a long shot, said Jimmie. land
l have lost That's ALL"
At widely known restaurant young
at another was a woman alone Present
ly the woman went to the ladies' recep-
ton room few seconds later the young
girl followed her. In a few minutes the
woman returned and started to finish her
meal. Shortly afterward the girl reap
peared and held a whispered conserva-
sation with the man. Then the girl
walked over to the woman and asked
Did you find my rings?"
"Your rings?s repeated the woman.
"Why, no.
The girl explained that when she en-
tered the reception room she had laid
her rings on the washstand, that the
odor of cigarette smoke had affected her
and she had gone out and that when she
returned her ringes We're gone. She sur
missed, of course, that the woman had
found them. And would she kindly re-
turn them and avoid trouble?
The woman protested that she had not
seen the rings The girl insisted that
she must have them. The manager was
called, search was made in vain and the
girl demanded that the woman be ar
How much were your rings worth ?" :.
rested. AT last the woman asked:
"Oh. not so MUCH" said the girl, visibly
Frightening. "They were keepsakes In
all they were worth about Si0.'
After some thought the woman said
Il haven't seen your rings, but | realize
that | am in most embarrassing posi-
tion. To avoid further trouble L will give
you $40 which I have in my purse and my
gold vanity case, which IS worth far
more, if that will settle the natter
The girl accepted the offer AS the
woman started to put ON her wraps the
girl opened the vanity case and dumped
out on the floor some gold tipped cigar
cites, thus coroborating one part of her
story.
The transaction had seemed very Pc
culiar to one of those who witnessed il,
and when the girl and man left he fol-
lowed them. They walked up Fifth ave-
nue. a few blocks. Then the man thrust
his hand into his pocket and handed the
girl some rings.