BOGUS V.C.’S FRAUDS

Evening Star, Issue 17880, 28 January 1922, Page 16

BOGUS V.C.’S FRAUDS

Detectives have arrested at Cleveland,* Ohio, a man giving the name of Sydney Brcese and describing himself as an officer of the lltli'Hussars and the possessor of the Victoria Cross. The man, who is accompanied by bis wife, is dunged with cheq e forgeries tot lling mo e than J3UJ.OCO, tlio alleged olfeuccs being spread over a period of three years. Breeso himself is an American, and, according to his own statement, was employed as a roughrider by Barnum and Dailey in England at the outbreak of war. He then joined a British cavalry regiment, was promoted to sergeant, was wounded and gassed, and received the Victoria Cross for rescuing an officer under tile. The wife, an English girl, who says she was formerly a nurse, met Breed- in a hospital in Trance. Detectives who have been following the pair for several months state that Brecse made free use of the British uniform, and with its aid and that of bis prepossessing wife bad no difficulty in persuading banks and hotelkeepers to trust them. When arrested Brcesc had . in his pockets a number of visiting cards ' inscribed "Lieut. Sydney Brcese, V.C., | 11th Hussars, British Army.”