A Methodical Swindler.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 143, 16 June 1894, Page 4 (Supplement)

A Methodical Swindler.

Richard Douglas, a man convicted at the Old Bailey on April 18th, 1851, was one of the coolest swindlers of his time. His impositions were assisted by the adoption of various titles, he being ab one time a cap-tain-and another Sir Richard Douglas, of Orpineton House, Keno. A bad feature of hia case was that he waa assisted in the frauds by his two sone. Everything was carried out in a moet methodical way, a list of people to be victimised being- kept in a diary, which also contained an account of the varying success that attended Douglas'? nefarious efforts. The entry for the first day of 1851 opened with prayer, asking Providence to bless the exertions of the writer and his sons, and make them more prosperous than they were last year.. ,The diary was filled with such entries as : — 'Jan. 5, phaeton and horse seized. Fear exposure ab Ascot, and all chance up there. We must cut.— 7. All day ill. Row about stable. Forcible possession taken of it. Row all day with one person or another. Fearful how thingrs will end. Three bt>ys at homo idle, all ordering things. 18.— Went to boys to dinner—champagne—very merry. Providence nob quite deserted us.' The part of a begging letter falling into the hands of a constable, led to inquiry and the arrest of the family. Although convicted the prisoners escaped with light sentences, the sham 'captain' going to prison for 12 months, and his sons for three months.