DR BONNEFIN DETECTED.

Evening Star, Issue 5230, 9 December 1879, Page 4

DR BONNEFIN DETECTED.

So long a time has elapsed since “ Dr William Bonnetin’’ succeeded in swindling several Melbourne jewellers out of property valued at a considerable amount that the affair, which created no little sensation at the time, has ere this almost slipped the memory of the public. It will, however, be easily recalled to recollection that in the month of July last a man whom nobody had previously known took sumptuous apartments at St. Kilda, giving out that he was a doctor of medicine from London, and stating that hia wife and family were about to join him, made arrangements for their reception. He also stated that he wished to at once commence practice, and readily obtained permission to affix a door-plate to the exterior of the house, announcing it as the residence of Dr Bonnefin. His next move was to interview a livery stablekeeper in St. Kilda, from whom he hired a buggy and pair. The same morning he visited a well - kown printer in Melbourne, and had a number of cards struck off bearing the name “ Dr Bonnefin.” Thus armed, he deliberately set out on a career of swindling, beingemboldened by the success which had attended a previous attempt in the same direction. This matter may be referred to en jmsant. At the beginning of the month of April last a person fashionably dressed visited the establishment of Messrs Denis Bros., which was then in Bourke street, and in a most .■nonchalant manner desired to be shown some jewellery, expressing his intention of making a selection for hia wife. The assistant who waited upon him was a Mr Lachelle, and the customer, having selected various articles of jewellery valued at about LIOO, suggested that someone should accompany him to his Louse in Simpson’s road, in order that his wife might select what she preferred, and ’that the remainder might be returned. This Proposition was acquiesced in, and Mr lachelle accompanied the new purchaser in this buggy to a house in Simpson’s road. 'On arriving there the latter induced him to wait in the sitting-room while he showed the jewellery to his wife, who he stated was ill in bed. Taking the parcel of valuables with him, the man retired to an adjoin-

ing apartment, and Mr Lachelle heard voices in conversation, aa if a discussion waa going on aa to the relative beauties of the jewellery. At length all became quiet, and Mr Lachelle, sitting alone in the room is whicu he had been left, began to be suspicious that a good customer had not been secured after all. After waiting some time he ieft the room, and encountering a servant girl in the hall, he asked her where the gentleman had gone. He then ascertained that the supposed customer had in the meantime changed his hat, and had left the house by another door in a very precipitate manner. Of course, the parcel of jewellery disappeared with him. Explanations were at once sought for and were readily given. It then transpired that the man had only that morning taken the house furnished as it was from a Mr Johnson, the agent for the property, and that there was no person lying sick in the house at all. That a daring swindle had been perpetrated was at once apparent, and nothing could be done beyond making the police authorities aware of what had taken place. All their investigations, however, proved fruitless, as no trace of the offender could be found. The whole affair was evidently cleverly planned and as adroitly executed, for it transpired that when taking the house the man had stated that on the following day a sick lady would arrive, and the servant girl previously referred to was engaged by him to wait upon her when she came. The house waa taken in the name of James O’Brien, Despite the activity of the detectives, not the slightest clue could be obtained to the identity of the swindler, and no more was thought of the matter until in the following July Dr Bonnetin cams upon the scene. As already stated, this man engaged a suite of furnished rooms in Fitzroy street, St. Hilda, and stating that his family would arrive on the following day, he left the premises, after putting up his door-plate with “Dr Bounetiu ” upon it. From Mr Willoughby, a livery stable-keeper in Sc. Hilda, he hired a horse and buggy with a coachman in livery, and after driving about the beach during the forenoon he then proceeded to town, where he had a number of cards printed by Mr W. H. Williams, of Lonsdale street. He received fifty in a very short time, and, ordering 1,000, he left, intimating his intention of calling again for the remainder. He then drove to the shop of Mr E. Spann, jeweller, of Collins street east, and, after considerable delay, selected a quantity of jewellery, the invoice for which amounted to L 25 10s, For this amount ho gave his cheque, and drove away with the property. Messrs Wenzel and Encs, of Bourke street, were the next victims. From them he obtained jewellery to the value of L 24, paying for it, as in the previous case, with his own cheque. Finding "that his artifices were unsuspected, and that “Dr Bonnefin’a ” cheques were received as if they were notes, he then drove to the establishment of Mr Moses Goldstein, where he selected jewellery to the extent of L 44 10a, for which he also gave his cheque. At this stage he appears to have paused to consider the propriety of continuing his nefarious operations, far he visited the Globe Hotel, where he drank some brandy, and also “ shouted ” for the coachman. He evidently came to the conclusion that he could go on with impunity, for immediately afterwards he drove to Mr Gaunt’s at the Royal Arcade, where, after inspecting about half the goods in the shop, he finally selected a gold watch and other articles, valued at L 54 10s. As usual, he tendered a cheque in payment, but the assistant, a Mr Fitzgerald, not knowing the signature, made some demur to receiving it. “Dr Bonnefin ” expressed surprise at his ignorance, but to convince him at once offered to drive him to his residence at St. Kllda, and remove any apprehensions he might entertain. Mr Fitzgerald accepted the offer, and on seeing the house, and the elaborate name-plate, came to the conclusion that his suspicions were unfounded, and came away quite satisfied. The jewellery remained in “Dr Bonnefin’s ” possession. The swindler then sent the buggy to the stables, and told the coachman to call for him the next morning. From that time Dr Bonnefin disappeared. The next morning it was discovered that all his cheques were valueless, and the detectives were speedily communicated with. The authorities promptly took the matter in hand, but despite their vigilance, early the next morning nearly all the stolen jewellery waa pledged at various pawn-shops by a woman for amounts far below the real value. No clue to tbe woman was, however, obtained, and no trace of Dr Bonnefin of the faintest character could be found. So cleverly was the work accomplished that the authorities all came to the conclusion that it had been effected by no “ ’prentice hand,” but that some first-class London thief on his way to the Sydney Exhibition had practised the frauds in Melbourne, and had at once cleared out for New South TV ales. Nothing occurred to alter their view of the case until recently, when twomen named Creed and HartandMrs Creed were arrested upon the charge of manufacturing and uttering base coin. Various disguises were feund in Creed’s possession, and Detective Coleman, who had charge of the case, at once suspected the identity of Creed with Dr Bonnefin. Careful inquiry elicited a series of facta bearing out this view, while it transpired that Mrs Creed answered the description of the woman who pawned the stolen jewellery. With regard to Creed, it was ascertained that he had, while living in Brunswick and other places, been in the habit of appearing in disguises so complete that his most intimate friends did not know him. At one time he waa employed as a wardsman at the Melbourne Hospital, and after he left there he was known amongst a certain circle as “Dr Creed.” These facts were carefully collated, and at last it waa positively ascertained that he was none other than the veritable “Dr Bonnefin.” Creed was yesterday sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for coining, and subsequently he was positively identified by several persona as the offender in question. When taxed with the fact, while he admitted having been instrumental in pawning much of the stolen jewellery, be denied being the personator of Dr Bonnefin. It is a significant fact, however, that Creed came here from Mauritius, where a medical man bearing the very unusual name of Dr Bonnefin has an extensive practice. Active steps will at once bo taken to prosecute him on the various charges, and in a few days he will be brought before the City Bench on habeas corpus. —‘ Argus.’