Magnificent Car Sharpers

Hokitika Guardian, 16 December 1922, Page 4

Magnificent Car Sharpers

LONDON. Oct a. Scotland Yard dete. rives arc conducting a wide search for six of the most skilful card-sharpers in England. They arc men who by po.-i'ig as ul high priile.ssiuii.il standing have obtained the confidence of wealthy victims and lleoccd them of many thousands of pounds. Om of them describes himself as a barii-ter. another as a wealthy mining engineer, a third as a> wealthy merchant. a fourth a,s a racehorse owner, and the other two call themselves independent gentlemen. They have bloated hanking accounts, live in the most fashionable hotels in London and in hydropathic c-sta. .ishniiints in various parts, dress-' with scrupulous care, and spend money as if they posse-.sed the hank of England. A £'2,( IK) motor car is their minimum idea of comfortable travel, and t.lui finest wines and cigars never quite come up to their standard of quality. They arc especially liberal ill the tips they give to thiir chaifears and hotel servants. By secret thinking movements these tricksters learn all they can about visitors staying in hotels, and in a short time establish a friendly and even intimate with them. Dinners, theatres, motoivar trios into the country and larious othei terms of entertainment and hospitality follow. Card gayies are also introduced. I.OSMICS AS DECOY. Some nights the luck is fairly divided and on. another onr« or two members of the gang lose a lew hundred pound-. I' rea’iv t 1 not matter how miuh. At the right- moment the pigeon is plucked and his losses-m.v bo hum In-!- of pounds and may be thousand .. Then when it is too late, it dawns upon him that his apparently charming friends have- somehow or other cheated him and have mysteriously disappeared to find fresh victims. The sharpers are prepared to play and cheat at any game the victims prefer, but nowadays they are more

partial! to auction bridge than to any other. Auction bridge does not arouse tliei suspicion that real gambling games do. Owing to the numerous complaints which have been received the police are determined if possible to stop the activities of these swindlers, and special measures have been taken to protect unsuspecting- men of money and leisure. West End hotels and restaurants are being carefully watched hi detectives and warnings about the gang have htian sent to various parts of 11 to country.