CONFIDENCE TRICKS

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 71, 17 December 1928, Page 12

CONFIDENCE TRICKS

Sir, —From time to time we read in the Press of the operations of confidence tricksters who, on varying pretexts, and with varying success, wheedle money out of the pockets of both the rich and the poor. It often makes entertaining reading for those who are not their victims I It at times makes us sure we are not among the number of those of whom the proverb says: "A fool und his money are soon parted.” We are particularly glad when the confidence tricksters get caught, and get a bit of their deserts.

But there are confidence tricksters very difficult to catch. In this busy life we have so little time to spend on catching them, and some of us have no money to do it with—for it takes money to catch them. They arc the confidence tricksters who, having a fair idea of how gullible the public is, set forth on “whispering campaigns” about this, that, and the other person. An American cablegram, a while ago, told of such a “whispering campaign” carried on during the Presidential electioneering. We are not without knowledge of such in our own electioneering. Many years ago, I said to someone: “I have been told to-day that there is nothing to choose between the two candidates.” In one house I was told “A” beats his wife, in another, 1 was told “B” would beat his wife if he had one. I think I voted for “B,” the one who had not yet beaten his wife. Well, of course, the public is very gullible—and no one likes to up and say when “something awful” is told them about "A.” or “B,” or “Where is your proof, and if you haven't any. why tell it round ’in strict confidence?”’ Our social, civic, and political life would be wholesomer and brighter if all confidence tricksters of this sort were met in this way. One may add, too, that “A.” or “B,” or “C.” about whom the "awful things” are whispered, would be much happier themselves if they felt that nothing said “behind their bucks” would be believed. Some will say: “They have got their remedy in a libel suit”; but they hgve not, because ten to one, “A,” “B,” or "C,” have not the money or the time to carry it through, and the confidence tricksters know this full well; besides, without agreeing that "the law is a bass,” it, as least, is a bit uncertain in its operations, and gullible fools who would be witnesses do not have to show themselves up in Court. ' . . There is a New Year coming; a good resolution for it would be: “Down with confidence tricksters.” so that this land of ours might be "a brighter New Zealand.” -I am, etc.,-' GRACE FOX. ' Otaki, December 6.