TRICKS OF PARISIAN SWINDLERS.

Northland Age, Volume 2, Issue 43, 5 June 1906, Page 8

TRICKS OF PARISIAN SWINDLERS.

One of the cleverest things in roguery was recently discovered in Paris—where nearly everything that is new and clever comes from.

One of the large restaurant firms of the French capital—an establishment that has its eating-houses in all parts of the city—has been losing its silver in a most unaccountable manner ; consequently a number of waiters were discharged, and detectives patrolled the restaurants ; but without ayail.

Finally the trick was discovered. It was found that in each case a respectable person entered the restaurant, and gave his order for dinner. During the meal he conveyed one or more articles to the underside of the table, fixing them there by means of wax, with which he was provided for the purpose. Should the servant who waited upon him miss any of the spoons or other articles, the rogue was in no danger, but offered to be searched, with perfect impunity and an air of injured innocence.

Of course he was allowed to depart but, immediately after an accomplice entered. Ordering his dish and seating himself at the same table he proceeded to remove the secreted articles to his pocket, taking care that the waiter should not miss anything from the table before him. There was no reason for suspecting this individual, who paid his bill, and departed—to share the booty with his confederate. The way in which the trick was detected is an instructive illustration of the ingenuity of the criminal pitted against the superior skill of the detective.

The officer of the law, who was on the watch in a certain restaurant noticed the disappearance of some silver at one of the tables. He had his diner searched, with the usual result and was compelled to tender his profuse apologies to the indignant guest.

Returning to the table in no very good humour, the disciple of Lecocq seated himself with his back to the table, and buried his face in a newspaper. A large pier-glass was affixed to the wall on the opposite side.

Soon a gentleman (a confederate) entered, seated himself at the table, and while partaking of his soup began to, work, little dreaming that the peaceable-looking person opposite, with his back towards him was watching every movement in the looking glass through a hole in the newspaper which he held before his face and pretended to read. It was as good as a play, and the detective was obliged to restrain himself, or he would have laughed outright.

No sooner had the rogue succeeded in transferring the last of the spoons and forks to his pocket than he rose leisurely, walked to the cashier's desk and took out his money to pay for the meal. But at the same time the detective quickly slipped on a pair of handcuffs on the man’s wrists The missing articles were found in his pocket and he was marched off to the city prison.—" Spare Moments."