SHARPS AND FLATS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18570, 24 November 1920, Page 8

SHARPS AND FLATS.

This is the time when unsuspecting people aro tricked by confidence men, savs a Melbourne writer on the eve of the Cup. It is not easy to repulse some of the plausible strangers who aro on the lookout ;for victims, for some of them stick closer than burrs unless the intended victims have the strength ot mind to call in the policeThere are times when the confidence men meet with visitors who are veil able to take care of themselves, but the rogues are good judges of _ character and are seldom in a bad position, i ney know the gnme too well to be_ early on the losing side. Should a spieler . discover that he has made a mistake ho departs hurriedly for other scenes ot action. RICH UNCLE IN FIJI. Just now Melbourne contains many :mart men who live upon ,the credulity >f the publio. They have all sorts of ''spiels’* and games to oifer. The rich uncle in Fiji is as much in evidence to-day as lie was at any time of his history, and lie may be used at this Cup season by tho hawks who excite the cupidity of their victims by a display of counterfeit notes and crooked cheques. Some of the men working the confidence game are so plausible, and so well mannered, that educated men are frequently taken in by them. A pleasant acquaintance on shipboard or in a hotel suddenly turns out to be a rogue. It is not so long ago that a visiting .nodical man was cheated out of a. large mm of money. The world is full of sharps and flats, and as the flatß are probably in the proportion of; ten to i>ne they provide luxurious livings for the other men. GAMES TO BE AVOIDED. It is. seldom safe to join in a, game of cards , for large stakes with strangers.,; Many tricksters frequent the trains,, and on journeys produce cards and propose a game to the travellers in a smoking compartment. Poker is often played by confederates until sure “ plugs ” are drawn in, and then tne cards are stacked against the victims. Soma of the sharps can do amazing iricks with cards while seemingly playing an honest game. The victims are permitted to win a few pounds, and vhen when the stakes are heavy the game of cheating is put into operation.

Country visitors staying at city hotels should discountenance strongly strangers who muy offer to lead them to where “a quiet game” can be played up to any amount. There is one place In Melbourne where the limit is said to he the .Bky. Gambling appeals to so many men that a big game can always belgot going at places known only to the Initiated. OU> AND NEW THICKS’. The old purse trick is mferdditced in the lanes of the principal thoroughfares in the city, and the three card trick is played in all sorts sf; places,: mostly in the open air, on the /racecourses, and wherever large numbers of holiday-makers are assembled., The shell 1 game is a favourite one with some of the furtive gamblers, and the two-headed penny is used whenever - there is a chance of a game of “twio-up.” Loaded dice aro in the outfit of nearly every rogue who lives upon crooked games. Some new tricks with cards have been introduced from abroad, but these are said to be variants of the old ones, and all danger of losing money can be avoided by the simple expedient of refusing to play any game for big sums with strangers not vouched for by responsible persons. An innocent game of poker for threepenny rises can easily be increased to a perilous height by sharpers who have been thrusting drinks upon their acquaintances.

“ SOAPY RAMS ” ARE CLEVEREST. No warnings will benefit those who are easily persuaded by the oilytongued confidence. men. It has to be relhembered that a perfect rogue may appear camouflaged as, a perfect gentleman occupying a suite of rooms in a fashionable hdtel. This brand of “ Soapy Sam ” is capable of tricking a Federal politician out of his £IOOO a year salary. The “ Soapy Sams ” are the cleverest of thfe cheating fraternity. They are often men of education, and have lived on their wits in many countries. They may offer shares in plantations in New Guinea, and. talk about the wealth in copra, which is tho dried kernel of of the cocoanut. ' They fou'lteni own tin mines, and gold mines,, or are able to put friends on to “good things” Up North or in the West. They will play carcf games to any amount, and their particular prey are the young. sheep and cattle farmers “down” for the Dup.