TRADES PEOPLE TRICKED

Evening Star, Issue 18668, 24 June 1924, Page 4

TRADES PEOPLE TRICKED

LADY ADD THE BABY. Tile exploits of the lady and the bouncing baby are now approaching tlio famous, or rather notorious, but there is no monotony in the mother’s methods, for she succeeds in varying her modus operandi on each occasion (soys the Auckland ‘Star’). The latest “dupes” that have como to light stamp the trickster as an actress of no mean calibre and of an original state of mind. On one occasion she chose a local milliner for her victim, Entering the millinery ..establishment she chatted to the proprietress for some time, the lady’s nicely-dressed and hcalthy-lookiiig baby being the chief topic of conversation. Suddenly (as usual) the lady finds that she lias lost her purse. Handbag and basket arc turned out, but there is no sign of the missing article. Thera is no doubt about it—the purse is lost, and the lady was about to visit her mother in Mount Albert, (According to the tale she told (he tailor, she lived in Mount Albert hcrwT) As in the previous cases, the shop lady volunteers to lend her a few pence to pay the tram fares. Thankfully the lady consents to acc pt the laan, a- -! is about to dc_ part when, after fumbling in her handbag for some time, she produces a crumpled piece of notepaper. After rending the paper through once or twice she explains that the clear baby is not nearly as well as ho looks. In fact, the mother has just consulted a doctor concerning the child’s health, and the crumpled piece of paper is a prescription that the doctor has given her to take to a chemist, but now the baby will have to wait for its medicine. Out of pity the milliner volunteers a further loan of 4s, (lie price of (he medicine. The nsuitl profuse thanks follow, and the baby and its mother depart with the sum of ss, which is to he refunded within a few days. It is needless to say that this is the last, part taken by the principal figures in the little comedy. The milliner, who has come in contact with many forms of feminine tricksters m Australia, admits that she was completely taken in by the frank and open manner of her customer. The mofher of the babv is described as being of dark complexion, and nbont thirty-five years of ago, being smartly bnt not showily dressed, with the appearance of a visitor from the country. A similar story comes from Devonport. This time it is a friend in the Auckland Hospital whom the lady was about to visit when she was unfortunate enough to lose her purse. She entered a well-known business establishment at North Shore, and, approaching the lady clerk, inquired if the manager was in. On receiving an answer in the negative; “Oh, I’m so sorry he’s not in, for he knows me so well, and I wanted to borrow some money to go across to Auckland to visit a friend of mine who is Iving pick at the hospital." The kind-hearted Lady clerk falls for the trick at once, and explains that, although she cannot lend any of the firm’s money, she will be pleased to advance the lady half a crown, which can be paid next time she calls. Even the baby smiles, and the pair depart, the customer having freely given her address. Time passes, but the lady and her baby have apparently been swallowed up, for no sign is seen of them. Tho lady clerk then drops a line to her customer’s supposed residence, but the letter is returned within a few days after having passed through tho dead letter office, and all hope of ever seeing the half-crown again is given up-