FRAUDS ON WOMEN

Evening Star, Issue 17923, 20 March 1922, Page 5

FRAUDS ON WOMEN

A BOGUS DOCTOR PROPOSALS OF MARRIAGE. In all my experience of twenty-five years I think lie is tho worst man I have ever como across. This was the description givctn by Detective-sergeant Yard at London Sessions of Ronald Oswald Forbes, a man of thirty-five, who described himself as a clerk. Forbes had pleaded guilty to the following offences: Stealing a fur-lined coat, value lZgs, belonging to the Baker Street Fur Store. Stealing six cheque forms, the property of Mrs Dora Wallington, a young war widow, of Portsdown road, Maida Vale. Mrs Wallington almost entirely lost Iwr sight in consequence of her troubles and loss of money. Obtaining by false pretences £9O and jewellery and clothing (value £75) from Miss Annie Hepson, a cook, of Sydney street, Chelsea. Stealing two silver cigarette casea and 200 cigarettes from the Army and Navy Stores.

Tho jury having decided that Forbes was an habitual criminal, Detective Yard j resumed his story of the njan's criminal record. Forbes, said the officer, was born in Marylebone. With regard to Mrs Wallington, ho made her acquaintance in Hyde Park, and posed as a doctor attached to St. George's Hospital. He stayed at her house from November, 1920, to January, 1921, and they became engaged. During that time he stole a case of Apostle spoons and a necklace, and gave these articles to a Mis Wood and her daughter, enclosing n card bearing tho words: " With tho compliments of Dr Erio Forbes Christmas, 1920." Afterwards Forbes .suet a Miss Delphino Franks, a nurse at Paddington Infirmary. Ha proposed marriage, after telling her he was a doctor at St. George's Hospital. •After persuading her to give up her situation they went to her parents' homo at Penartn. Three weeks afterwards tho banns were put up. Then Forbes intimated that he had no money, and there was no wedding. The officer then told the story of prisoner's acquaintance with, a Mies Leighton, of Llandaff, with whom he was keeping company about the same time as with Miss Franks. He took from her a diamond and platinum ring, pretending that he was to receive a cheque for £2OO from a Penarth jeweller. The case of Miss Hepson was a very Bad one, said Detective Yard. They were keeping company, and he persuaded her first to withdraw £SO from the Post Office Savings Bank, and later ho _ got possession, of the rest of her life savings, £24 16s. Forbest had induced her to take out a marriage license, the date for tho wedding was fixed, and cards were printedi On the appointed day Forbes said he had no money, and that he had pawned the wedding ring the girl had bought. There was another woman living in Holland Park to whom Forbes load proposed marriage and whose dre63 ring ho stole. He also borrowed a watch from a nurse, saying he had broken his own, and) it was "awkward walking round the wards at night without one.'' From a house at Buckingham Gate Forbes, when visiting a parlormaid, stole sottta headed notepaper, and in the name of the girl's master obtained goods from Wost End stores. Detective Yard added that Forbes had the addresses, of numerous women, in Penarth, Cardiff, and London, whose acquaintance he had made. ' "Altogether," said the officer, "I have had dozens of complaints about him proposing marriage, robbing his victims of their jewellery, and leaving them stranded." Santenoe was passed of four years penal servitude, to bo followed by five years*