YANKEE CROOK.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 47, 24 February 1923, Page 19

YANKEE CROOK.

AN EXTRAORDINARY STORY. An exchange of confidences between two American girls led to tbe capture ot a "crook," who, although mnrrled. had become engaged to both and extracted large sums of money from them. When her life-long friend arrived on a visit from Buffalo, Lena Belofaky. aged 24, of New York, had much to tell ber, not the least Important of tbe confidences that were exchanged being tbe announcement that Lena was going to be married. As the wedding secret was divulged her friend glanced towards the bureau on which stood a heart-shaped frame containing the photograph of a good-looking man. When her eyes took in the photograph she got a surprise, and turning to Lena she remarked: "How much did he get from you?"

"He got £100 of my life savings," was the reply.

"But," she added, "why do you stare at the photo, and why did you think he got any of my money?"

"Because he got even more from mc," was the reply of the visitor, "and he then disappeared."

It transpired that Lena's friend bad met the man In Coney Island, and he bad promised marriage. He «eemed depressed because he wax unable to set up bouse at once, and she bad given him a loan (as he termed it) of money to buy the furniture. He bad then vanished, and It was when she saw hie photograph in Lena's bureau that she knew htm to be a rotrue. The trlrls went out to search of the man who had duped them both. They were fortunate in finding him without him being aware of the fact, and. culling a police officer, the girls and the policeman tracked him to bis home. When they entered he was playing with lifs two children, and his wife was preparing bis dinner. He gave the name of Samuel Lewlnter, said be was 30 years of age. admitted getting the money, bnt said be was going to pay It back. Lewlnter could not explain why he got himself engaged to two girls and received money from them to furnish a honee. According to the police, Lewinter is a "crook," and lives by such heartless frauds.