CHAPTER XVIII.
Conclusion.
CHAPTER XVIII.
CONCLUSION.
It has been already mentioned that there are a number of persons in the city who do more or less in the fortune-telling way, who never advertise for customers. These we must leave to their own seclusion; as our business has been with those who make a business of this species of swindling, and who use all manner of arts to entice the curious, or the credulous, into their dens, there not only robbing them of their money, but often putting them in the way to be injured much more deeply. This, of course, is especially the case with young girls.
In order to give the readers of this book an idea of the part taken by these fortune-telling women in many of the terrible dramas of crime constantly enacting in city life, an extract showing the modus operandi is here inserted. It is from one of a series of very useful little books published in this city, and entitled, “Tricks and Traps of New York.”
Speaking of New York fortune-tellers, the author says, having previously indulged in some severe remarks about “yellow-covered” novels:
“To see how the fortune-teller performs her part, let us suppose a case: