AUTOGRAPH RACKET.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 238, 7 October 1936, Page 13

AUTOGRAPH RACKET.

USED AS FORGERIES. ( FILM STARS VICTIMISED. (Special.—By Atr Mail.) LONDON, September 12. Film and stage stars are about to make a combined effort to put "paid" to the activities of forgers who make use of their autographs. They may refuse to give autographs in the streets, and will adopt methods of supplying '"fans" with the coveted signatures without the risk of their being exploited. Several instances of the work of "autograph crooks" have come to light in London. One man who got ihold of the signature of Archie Pitt, the actor and revue manager, wrote on top that Mr. Pitt had given him permission to form a troupe of 12 dancing girls for a new show. On the strength of this forged permission the man borrowed money from a ballot mistress, and obtained euins from parents who hoped their daughters would bo given engagements. Another "racket" tried successfully by the autograph crook is this: Above a signature they forge an order for a dozen pair of silk stockings to be handed to the bearer of the note or to be sent to an accommodation address. The autograph of a famous star was used in a faked reference by a man claiming to have invented a wonderful new type of gramophone record. To outwit the unscrupulous one well-known actress adds the words "with best wishes" to her autograph. Another idea is to write in abnormally large letters, and yet another is to sign only at the top of« pieces of paper.