A CONFIDENCE TRICK.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10225, 28 April 1911, Page 7

A CONFIDENCE TRICK.

j A rather smart confidence trick is reported to bo in vogue in some of the larger towns just now which (says the Manawatu Standard) should act as a warning to tradesmen in general to be on the alert in their dealings with strangers with a plausaMo address. The individual referred to, who was well dressed and generally had a taking sort of way with him that betokened much knowledge with men in good positions, bustled into a stationer's shop, having doubtless timed his visit so that only a young lady attendant was in charge. In a persuasive manner he asked for £2 worth of postage stamps, which ho said ho wished! to post in a letter which ho produced. When he placed the stamps in the envelope, which he had stamped and addressed, he suddenly recollected that he had a cheque for a considerable j amount to cash and ho must go to the bank at once. "I'll bo back in ten minutes," he said, "and I shall be wanting some books and stationery when I return. Just keep the letter, as I find I have not enough silver to pay for the stamps It was stupid of me not to have got the cheque cashed before, but it entirely slipped irv memory." And with a smile and ;

raising of his hat he was gone. He never returned, and then with some misgivings the proprietor began to view the transaction. As there was no sign of his reappearance the letter was opened and found to contain some blank pieces of paper. . Further enquiry elicited the fact that the stranger had obtained cash for the stamps elsewhere. His appearance had not been particularly noticed, and tho stationer admits that his assistant was ' cleverly "taken down," as he would have been himself 'by the device. The method pursued was the very simple one of having two letters exactly alike in his pocket, and when he had put the postage stamps in one, after the usual "blarney," he handed back tho ether.