MEMOIRS OF SCOTLAND YARD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 70, 23 March 1935, Page 4 (Supplement)

MEMOIRS OF SCOTLAND YARD.

THE CONFIDENCE TRICKSTERS. PSYCHOLOGISTS OF THE CRIME WORLD — HIGHLY SPECIALISED INDUSTRY—STAFFS ON REGULAR WEEKLY SALARIES — TRICKS OF THE TRADE—"WORKING ,, OCEAN LINERS—CUNNING DECOYS LURE VICTIMS—THE "BIG LAND DEAL." (By CECIL, BISHOP, ex C.I.D. —All Kights Reserved.)

Confidence tricksters are the psychologists of the criminal world. They are also the business men, and my experience leads me to believe that there is no industry better organised and more highly specialised than that of the confidence trickster. For many years "con. men" have made a much better living than hotel thieves, and although their occupation is largely "seasonal," it is so well organised that many workers receive a regular weekly salary from the boss all the year round. During the last few years, when victims have been more scarce —though often richer—tin; business has even been "rationalised," and any clever pair working together on their own would soon be absorbed in some big undertaking. Many detectives at the Yard made "con. men" their speciality during a spare hour —if they had one! When Yard men were on the lookout, "con. men" went lean, for even though, you could not get the loser to prosecute, you could usually take the crooks in on a charge of being suspected pprsons, which meant that they were out of the running for three months. Frankly I must say that I had never had the slightest sympathy for the victims of the confidence trickster. Their methods have been shown \ip in the Press so often that there is no excuse for anyone not being "wise to them." The "con. man" still finds victims because he understands human nature —or some kinds of human nature. His victims are generally men who know all the tricks of the "con. man," but think that they can beat him at his own game. They try. and burn their fingers, because they arc up against a man with years of experience, endless patience and the knowledge that

he must win or go out of business. I have rarely heard of a "con. man" going out of business until some victim has the courage to take a charge which sends the crook to prison for a stretch.

The Attitude of the Victims. The attitude of the victims often seems peculiar to the general public who' cannot see why a man who has lost between £2000 and £20,Q00 will not prosecute. The explanation will become apparent when I give, verbatim, a conversation overheard in the lounge of, the Waldorf Hotel not very long ago. Two men whose accents marked them as citizens of New York sat down and ordered cocktails. ' "Well," drawled the first, "I've been suckered for two thousand. Smart fellows those, and welcome to the money. But look here, Jess, no one but you and I have ever got to hear of it." "What you says' goes," confirmed the friend. "Hellaver fine guy I'd look in my Wall Street office if that got about. My clients would walk in and tell me if I couldn't look after my own money I» wasn't darn well likely to be able to look after theirs! They don't see the point that a man is entitled to do what he likes with his own money, and that it's no good squealing when you lose it, any more than if you put it on a horse." "I guess you're right," put in the friend.

"Well, here's how," concluded the American, raising his glass, "and if it's cost me two thousand to learn what a 'con. man' looks like it's been cheap at the price. I didn't know they looked like English dukes before!" That, in a nutshell, is the attitude of the American or Australian visitor who gets "suckered" for a large sum. He would rather lose his nioney arid smile than have his friends know and laugh: Often he is the head of a large business firm on holiday and it -would ruin his reputation if the story got round. London Summer Season. The "season'' for confidence tricksters in London is June, July and August; but many of them now work in al! the wealthy cities, going from London to Deauyille, perhaps," and then on tn the Riviera, for tlip winter. Wherever the rich congregate for holiday, the , "con. man" is to be found. It must not be imagined that they work quickly, bringing off one scoop after another. It may take ;i month to win the confidence of a victim, but it is a month well invested if it yields £10,000. Three or four scoops a year like that and a gang can live comfortably. Moreover, knowing the psychology of their victims, they have little to fear "rom the police, except thai, dreaded three months for being euspected persons.

In the case of Americans visiting London, the work usually starts in New York, where the clerical members of a gang are busy scanning advance sailing lists, and investigating the characters and bank balances of the passengers. Before the season "opens" probably half a dozen victims have been suspected as likely people. In the ease of a particularly promising "flicker" a member of the gang travels to Kurope on the same boat, and if he cannot effect an introduction manages to discover some useful information, and especially his victim's weakness —wine, women, cards or horses. It is surprising bew few wealthy men there are who do not have one of these failing*. Very often the approach is> made through the wife. Win her approval and trust and the bat'tle a-; half over.

Demeanour On Board Ship. On board .ship the confidence trickster, as distinct from the eardsharper, resolutely refuses to play cards. He will utate with great emphasis that'lie never plays with people strange to him, that he isn't rich and cannot afford to be a "sucker'." All this frank talking goes down very well. In the end the man may agree to play for a mere shilling a hundred or penny a point, and he takes care neither to win or lose large amounts. The power's of the ship's captain are such that working the confidence trick on board is not worth the risk. The man keeps his real plans m> his sleeve until he is safe in sonic big city, where it is easy to disappear in live minutes. As often as not the crook who travels over in the boat fades out of the picture as soon as hie victim reaches his hotel. He hands over to other members of the gang specially chosen for their knowledge of the particular form of confidence trick that is to be worked. An introduction is surprisingly easy to obtain. The wrong hat taken in the cloakroom, a '"chance" booking of neighbouring seats at a theatre, these and a hundred other excuses may be used, always with a duo regard to the character of the intended victim. I have even known one man who was a clever pickpocket, as well as confidence trickster, quietly remove the handbag of the future victim's wife, and then, when she got up, run after her calling "Excuse me, but did you drop this bag?"

All reference to money or business is carefully avoided by the "apers"—the slang name for the workers. For two or three weeks they make it their business to show the stranger London. Excellent guides they are, too, many of these men. I have known one who was a genius at

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making historical London live. Incidentally he was also a genius at cheating at poker.. Money is no object. The victim its entertained royally, and I will say this for the confidence tricksters, that they are willing to gamble freely on the chance of bringing off a coup. Usually, if they win the odds are about 10 to one, but sometimes they lose and depart £1000 the poorer.

win the odds are about 10 to one, but sometimes they lose and depart £1000 the poorer. Ground Well Prepared. When the ground has been well prepared, the actual coup is brought off. This is necessarily quick, though, there is no sign of pressure. The trick usually takes one of several well-known forms, though the details may vary—cards, horses and real estate are the favourites. At this stage the "executioner" may be brought in—a man who has spent hk life in taking money from others at his own particular trick. Let iis take the tricks in turn. Cards are a bit old-fashioned now. Visitors are always suspicious of the men who suggest a game of cards, but even this fact is turned to account by the tricksters. Let me give two examples. One crook I knew was quite clever at sleight-of-hand tricks. He could deal himself four aces, and that kind, of tiling. He had been amusing his victims for some time -with these tricks and his patter. One day, after a particularly skilful demonstration, his friend said: "Mr. Ernest, these , tricks must have made you very jinuch in demand socially. 1 have seen worse on the stage."

"Yes, I'm always being asked to do them at parties," replied the crook. "Th'J worst of it is that I cannot play.cards. I haven't, the face to eit down with anyone and play. They would think I was cheating in I won. It has beeu a great Joss to me, because I used to be very fond of a game of poker or "vingty/ " From that conversation to an expression of faith in the crook was a short Htep, and after several harmless games the crook 'cleared up a very nice sum—in a game where his friend dealt every time and he never touched the "stack."

Success Through Simplicity. An exceedingly clever trick which succeeded through its simplicity was played over and over again by another crook. With a number of friends he would start a heated discussion on telepathy or conjuring with his victim, usually in the lounge of a hotel. At last he would oiler, "Well, ——, will you agree to lay an even bet on £200 that.if you pick a card from the pack I can't transmit its suit and number to my friends without seeing them?"

Usually the victim would take the bet. The cards were shuffled ami ho was allowed to pick one, say, the ace of diamonds. "Right, now, ring thi« number and simply say to the man who answers the "phone "What suit is this card??'

The victim would' step incredulously ill a public telephone booth and ask tho question. "Diamonds," would come thu answer. '.'Now ring the other number and ask the number of the card."

Again the procedure "was gone through ind the number would (tome back, "nee."

The victim usually paid up. The trick was really so simple that it was not worthy of a "con. man'" with a pride in his work. He .'■• imply had a list of 17 telephone numbers and the "men and women at each of them were instructed to nive one of (licni suits or numbers from ace to King when asked. The "con. man" gave his victim the right numbers to telephone and the trick was over. It is

interesting, largely in showing how far men will back themselves in their belief that the apparently impossible cannot be accomplished.

The real estate trick which is becoming more and more popular is very simple in operation. It involves the selling of land and even buildings to which, of course, the ''con. men" have no title, and although it would be impossible to work with British business men, it is not so hard with men from other countries who do not realise that the transfer is not so simple in this country. A "solicitor," who looks the part, an impressive title deed with an elaborate and meaningless stamp, complete the deal.

"Selling" An Estate. In one case 1 <:<mie across the crooks actually had the effrontery to '■sell" their victim the estate of a well-known nobleman, and one of them took the American over the gardens and fields, explaining to the keeper that ho was a friend of Lord —'s! When the "sucker" asked for a solicitor, the men obligingly introduced him to one of their own friends who did the work cheaply. The noble lord of course never knew anything about the transaction until afterwards and the victim made no fuss, as he was anxious to keep the whole deal out of the papers.

"Con. men," I regret to say, are usually Irish. I don't know whether it is that my fellow countrymen have just the requisite touch, or whether it is that the "Blarney Stone" appeals to visitors in that unfriendly city of L/ondou. But run over the names—the O'Brien mob, the Kelly boys, the Murphy gang—there is no mistaking the country of origin. If you are on holiday with a cheque book in your pocket beware of charming Irishmen.

I was once taking a holiday when I fell ill with a stranger. He did the whole business much to my amusement and spent a deal of money on rue. The deal was suggested and I agreed. "Accidentally" as I pulled out my cheque book I let my Scotland Yard identification card fall. The Irish stranger looked at it, and then remembered an exceedingly pressing appointment.

People are often incredulous over the number of victims found by "con. men" in London. "Con. men" are certainly not so active as they were, but a recent society which devotes itself to the interest of American visitors had to help 500 of them who were etranded without a penny! How many others were left with just enough to pay their passages home I can only guess.