THE ESCAPE OF BRITAIN'S MASTER FORGER

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 63, 11 September 1937, Page 27

THE ESCAPE OF BRITAIN'S MASTER FORGER

"Bill, the Penman," the. elusive master-forger Scotland Yard has trailed unsuccessfully for years, figured in I police evidence again in, two cases at the Old Bailey, London, last month (according to the "Daily Express").

Clever cheque forgeries were behind the charges in both cases, and two members of the same gang of criminals went to gaol. But both went behind bars hugging the secret of "Bill, the Penman,"' the man who directs the gang and provides the members with their "weapons."

Detective-Inspector Albert Greenacre, Scotland Yard's expert on forgers and their methods, when one man was sentenced, declared:—

"The ringleader behind this and other forgeries is still at large."

In the first case, John Clarke, aged 45, trainer, was sentenced to eighteen months' hard labour for uttering a forged cheque for £1900. A second man, Alfonso Hartley, aged 29, waiter, who was similarly charged, was found not guilty.

Inspector Greenacre said Clarke was not a forger himself, but specialised in the confidence trick. He was a New Zealander, and had several previous convictions. It was alleged that in 1935 a man believed to be Hartley opened a banking account in the name of Grogan. Clarke posed as a man named Salter, and provided Grogan's reference.

Later a book of cheques was obtained from another bank, and a form from the book was forged for £1900 and paid into "Grogah's" account.

Jewellery worth £34 was then bought in the name .of Grogan, and

Clarke was at the bank when the cheque for this amount was presented.

Sentencing Clarke, the, Judge said: "You are a stupid person to become mixed up with these people, who led you into a life of crime."

In the second csse, Frederick Harris, | aged 58, dealer, was sentenced to eighteen months' imprisonment for obtaining cheque forms by means of a forged letter of application. Mrs. Sarah Spencer Oliver, actress, daughter of Mr. Winston Churchill, and wife of "Vie" Oliver, the American variety artist, gave evidence against Harris. Mr. Anthony Hawke, prosecuting, said it was alleged Harris obtained a book of uncrossed cheques by means of a letter of application bearing the forged signature of Mrs. Oliver. On the same day someone obtained £27 with a forged cheque from this book. Glancing at the forged cheque for £27, which was produced in court, Mrs. Oliver said it bore'a "very fine imitation" of her signature. . It was further alleged that Harris attempted to obtain another book of cheques by means of another forged letter of application. In this case, however, the bank officials were suspicious and refused to give him one.

Mr. Hawke stated that behind the offence charged against Harris, it was obvious a dangerous criminal was operating. . This mystery "Bill, the Penman," leads a Jekyll and Hyde existence — by day to all appearances an innocent man; at night a crook of brilliant ingenuity, with a genius for copying signatures. ' ■ , .■•:.