CONFIDENCE TRICKS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 10 May 1939, Page 5

CONFIDENCE TRICKS

IN PARIS CABARETS CROOKS’ NEW RUSE IBy Air Mail-Special Correaponrip"*! LONDON. Bth April. The latest variation of the time-hon-oured confidence trick involves the employment of a beautiful woman decojr ft is said to have been successfully practised in Paris cabarets by crooks from overseas on visitors from Britain and America. For victim, choice is made of a seemingly wealthy man who is alone in a cabaret. One of the tricksters gets into conversation with u im and suggests that, to enjoy night-club life in Paris, the visitor ought to have a charming lady as companion. The visitor generally agrees but stresses the difficulty of finding such a companion and the danger of being duped by an adventuress. Then the trickster mentions that he is expecting his fiancee or wife, as the case may be, and offers, as a great favour, to allow her to act as companion. A secret signal is made to a confederate in another part of the room and shortly afterwards, a smartly dressed woman of striking beauty appears and is presented. While the woman is attending to her toilet before dinner, the trickster takes the victim aside and suggests that in view of the risk he is taking in leaving the woman he loves with a total stranger for the rest of the evening, the visitor ought to make a gesture to show his good faith. The gesture takes the form of handing over his wallet, keeping only enough to pay the evening's bill. The trickster says he will return the wallet, for which he gives a formal receipt. when he returns to collect the woman later. Needless to say, he does not return Jnd the woman takes advantage of another visit to the cloak room to do a vanishing trick.