SENTENCED FOR FRAUD.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 40, 17 February 1911, Page 7

SENTENCED FOR FRAUD.

THREE YEARS' IMPRISONMENT. ;3y Telegraph.— Press Association.— Copyright. (Received February 17, 8.10 a.m.) LONDON. 16th February. At the criminal sessions at tho Old Bailey, William Joachim was sentenced to thtee years' imprisonment for fraudulently obtaining irora two ladies the sum of £5000. He claimed to be T;he late William Henry Vanderbilt's natural son, but evidence given at the trial disproved this. HOW THE FRAUD WAS WORKED. When first arrested, Joachim was described as "a well-dressed man, named .Frederick Denneby Vanderbilt, aged 48, an agent, of Marmion-road, Clapham Common." He was charged with having obtained by false pretences, witu intent to defraud, five bills of exchange for£looo each, from Miss Evelyn Maud Taylour and Miss Helen Beatrice Taykmr, at 10, Grafton-sfcreet, Bond-street. Prosecuting counsel said that the allegations were that, the prisoner obtained the fivebills of exchange from the ladies mentioned on 7th November, that being tho date upon. them. In October last, theladiei., who were interested in a wellknown West-end Club, inserted' an advertisement in a paper to the ertect that they were willing to offer a boaus to any person introducing captital to a going concern. They wanted the capital in order to fee able to take larger club premises, In reply to the advertisement there came a typewritten letter, stating that Mr. F. D. Vanderbilt^, who was a philanthropist, could accommodate the advertiser with a loan, if the bona fides of the matte* were established. He only helped in honourable and genuine causes, and was not a money-lender. The ladies called upon him at Marmion-road, and he asked for particulars, which were given him. He said lie was much interested' in the project, and would assist in obtaining the new capital. He went on to explain that he was a brother of Cornelius Vanderbilt, uncle to the Duchess of Maryborough, and related to Mr. Payne Whitney. He also said he was acquainted with the late King, and liad held a commission in the British Navy. He (counsel) thought he could prove that aU those statements were false. As a matter of fact his name was not Vanderbilt. but Joachim, and ho was an Indian by birth. On 3lst October, by arrangement, he went with the prosecutrices over the new premises and advised them to take them at once. He then, said he would obtain a loan, and, if necessary, ho .would advance the first year's rent himself. On that occasion he gave them a letter to show the landlord to enable them to enter into the necessary agreement for the premises. On ths faith of his assurances they signed the agreemeni to take the premises. Subsequently he called on them ana informer! ■ them that he had arranged for the loan I of £5000, and that they would receivc£4ooo in, cash, the remaining £1000 to be retained by the lender for brokerage and interest. On 7th November he called again, and at his request they signed five bills for £1000 each, three payable m three months and two in four months. On the same day he obtained 20gs. cash from them and signed a receipt stating that the money was for discounting the bills. A further charge would be preferred with respect to that sum. He failed to keep another appointment, and the ladies became suspicious. Information having been given j the police, he was arrested.