Pierce v. People

The defendant was indicted and, on trial, convicted, and sentenced to the penitentiary for the term of one year, for obtaining property of one Phillips, “ by the confidence game.”

Phillips was the proprietor of a hotel in East St. Louis, and on the 4th of August, 1875, the defendant became a guest of his—informing his clerk that he wanted a room for a few days, and other accommodations,—that he wanted his meals at the restaurant, so that he could take what he wanted and pay for it. He represented himself as being of the firm of D. Pierce & Sons, who were merchants doing business on Broadway…