A kind of sub-society existed in Richmond, as in other urban areas, of tricksters, swindlers, confidence men and certain thieves. By looking at the lower sort of deception and crime, one can gauge a fringe society. The indefatigable crime reporters of Richmond's newspapers, always with a bit of humor or pathos, give glimpses of a wide variety of misbehavior. Much of the goings-on are derived from the proceedings of the Police Court, which tried misdemeanors and presented felony cases for trial at a higher court. The period under consideration has been describe as the ""Golden Age of the Con"", when hordes of gamblers, thieves, swindlers, and confidence men plied their trade across the country. Richmond proved a fairly accommodating place for the enterprising petty criminal. Of over two dozen activities considered, topics range from clairvoyants to body-snatchers. Special events such as fairs, conventions, and commercial promotions attracted a traveling criminal element to the city. Richmond's tightly-packed population (the most congested city in the United States), the large number of the very poor, and the substantial immigrant population aided the ease of victimization. The under-staffed police had all that they could do to keep up with the chicanery and crime.