"THE KING OF SWINDLERS."

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXIX, Issue 56, 25 February 1913, Page 6

"THE KING OF SWINDLERS."

A criminal known as "the king of swindlers" was arrested in Paris lately. He used a nuhiber of aliases, being variously known as Pierre Michel, Robert de Crecy and the Comte de Kersant, while ins associates called Mm "The Captain." More than 100 complaints have been lodpjed against the man, and his exploits are believed to have brought ll'm in over £IO,OOO. He is now 48 years of age and admits that since he was 20 he has lived by crime. He made most of his money by masquerading as a captain of Colonial Infantry at hotels. His luggage, lie used to say, would arrive in ji few days, and oh the date lie had mentioned lie would ask the proprietor of the hotel to accompany him to tlie station. While at the buffet the "captain" would go off on the pretext, of looking after his luggage, j-imp into a taxicab and return to the l\>tel. There he would inform the proprietor's wife that a quantity of opium e >ncealed in his trunk ,had been discovered by the customs officers,;.who had fined him £2O. He would tell the *vo.nan that her husband had said she would lend him the money, and after receiving it would disappear.