The Newport plain talk. (Newport, Tenn.) 1909-1939, 1914-04-30
SCOTLAND yard
WARNS TOURISTS
Americans Especial Prey Of
London ''COn" Men.
BEGIN OPERATIONS IN APRIL

Methods by Which Sharpers Rob the
Unwary Explained In Circular Sent
to State Department Through Consul
General-Tricks With Variants Not
Unlike Those Employed on This Side.
The United States consul general ut
London has reported to the state de-
/ partment in Washington that he has
received communication from the
criminal investiga ton department Of
New Scotland Yard saying that in
! view of the large number of visitors
from America who have been victim
lied by the confidence trick In Lon
don, a police warning has been pre-
| pared giving the details of the trick as
commonly practiced The warning is
as follows:
Travellers intending to visit London
are warned against being induced to
part with money by what is known as
the confidence trick The criminals
who get their living by this kind OF
fraud select their victims from among
! American. Canadian and Australian
visitors because they know that If
| they are arrested the victim has book
ed his passage and will not stay in
London long enough to prosecute them
and that without Il prosecutor the po-
lice must liberate them
Trick Has Several Variants.
'There are several variants Of the
fraud: the comnionest is for a man
whom we will call A. to approach the
victim and. pretending to take him
| for Londoner. to ask him for infor-
nation on some point of historical in.
terest On the victim declaring HIM
self to be stranger in London and
mentioning his native town. A. claims
| acquaintance as fellow townsman
and invites the victim to lunch with
him.
"As they are going along the street
| they overtake IA second man. B.. who
| drops a satchel or an envelope just in
| front of them. The victim picks it
| I'D and restores it to the owner. who
! processes eXtravagant gratitude. say
| ing that the envelope contains the
proof of the inheritance Of large for
tune from the will of an uncle. Some
times he shows them a newspaper cut
ting purporting to give the result Of a
lawsuit which. he says. has been de-
cided In his favor. B. then invites the
two to lunch with him. and In the
course Of the meal tells them his uncle
made very eccentric will and that he
| is ut his wits end to know how to
comply with one of the conditions.
which IL that he is to distribute f5.OOO
among the poor Of London and like
| sum among the poor of the victims
native state.
"He is actually looking for two con-
scientious and trustworthy almoners
| to do this for him. and he is ready to
| pay each Of them f5tO for their trOu-
| BILE. After some conversation A. vol
unteers to undertake the distribution
In London. B. appears to be suspi-
cious and objects that their acquain-
lance is too slight to warrant him in
reposing such confidence in him. A.
| then produces from his pocket a bun
die Of what appear to be banknotes
and. to show his confidence in B.. begs
him to take them out of the room.
After a good deal Of pressing. r. COM
| plies. and on his return an agreement
is drawn up and B. hands over to A.
what appears to be $4,000 in notes.
Victim Waits In Vain.
1T is then the victims turn. Al
lured by the prospect Of winning f5OO
for nothing, the victim scarcely re-
quires the persuasion of A. to volun-
teer to distribute $4,000 among the
poor of his native state. In order to
establ confidence. he is induced to
60 with A. to his bank and draw out
f1OO or ESQ in notes.
''The comedy is then repeated. only
this time it has its tragic side. r. dis
appears with the notes and. after a
long interval. A. goes out to see what
has become of him. Naturally the
victim never sees him again. unless.
after lodging complaint, he is called
to identify him at the police station,
when. as has been said, he has to de-
eide whether he will stay to prosecute
or put up with his loss.
Incredible as it may seem. the sup
ply of dupes seems to be inexhausti-
BILE. The tricksters' season begins
about April and continues until the
last visitor has left England late in
the autumn"
Shifting the Responsibility.
Miss Rocksey-Oh, papa. why do yot
wish me to marry the kind of man who
can get money out of the other fellow
OLD Rocksey-Because. dear, then be
won't be trying to get it out of me-
Judge.
Easily Pleased.
Mrs. Brown has the kleptomania."
Indeed. What is she taking for it?"