FORGER’S DEN SECRETS

Evening Star, Issue 19052, 22 September 1925, Page 12

FORGER’S DEN SECRETS

REVEALED BY PERISCOPE STORY OF GIGANTIC PLOT The story of a gigantic plot against the revenue, foiled in the nick of time by Scotland Yard detectives who had for days watched through a periscope a house where the most elaborate forgers’ plant ever known had been assembled, was unfolded at the trial of William Henry Harrison, at the Old Bailey, London, recently. Harrison was one of the master minds of a daring gang of forgers who had planned to Hood post otiices all over the country with bogus money orders. Everything was in readiness for the great coup. The cosily and ela,borate plant for forging the money orders had been put together in a house in Earl's court road, prolonged tests had been carried out. to ensure that the forgeries _ would almost defy detection, and an official of the Tost Office had been suborned to help to put the bogus money orders into execution. Then, when the conspirators were in sight of success, Scotland Yard pounced upon Harrison, and raided the forgers’ den. Harrison has now gone to prison to serve a sentence of four years’ penal servitude, and the forgers’ plant is in the Black Museum of Scotland Yard as an exhibit, for it is the most complete equipment of its kind that has ever fallen into the hands of the police. CHEAT CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY.

Tho story of William Henry •Hawaon and the great forgery plot is all .part of a graft criminal conspiracy which had boon under investigation for many months by some ol the best brains at Scotland Vard. Early this year it was discovered that an alarming system of wholesale franc! was being perpetrated.on tho Post Office. Thousands of pounds had been obtained by means of forged withdrawals from the books of Post Office savings depositors. Scotland Yarn set to work ,and their efforts were rewarded by the capture of Gerald Kennaway, the chief conspirator, and ono of his confederates, John. Steven. Kcnnaway is acknowledged to he one of the most-highly educated criminals in the country. "'He passed out of Cambridge with a first-class degree, squandered a fortune, and turned to crime when he found himself bankrupt. A complete forgers’ equipment was found in his possession when he was arrested, and the police were able to bring crimes home to him which brought upon him a sentence of four years’ penal servitude. Scotland Yard knew lint at the time of "his arrest, Kennaway was planning a coup by which he hoped to majee himself rich for life. They knew that the plot entailed wholesale forgery, and that he had an accomplice who might he expected to carry out the scheme. Chief-Inspector Cornish, Inspector Leach, and other Scotland Yard detectives set to work to find the forgers’ headquarters. .Many ,-i.nvions weeks followed, when the

Yard men were hard at work endeavoring to track down their men before the scheme could bo put into operation. SPREADING THE NET. At last the officers obtained a clue implicating a man who was wanted in the name of Brookswood for a long ■ firm fraud in the city . He was identified as William Henry Harrison, and the detectives lost no time in spreading a net for him, Inspector Kirchuer, Detectivesergeant Gooch, Detective Walceling, and other officers of the Flying Squad were called in to keep observations on a house in Earl's court road, where Harrison had been seen. Harrison, alarmed by Kennaway’s capture, was moving about so warily, that, in order not to arouse his suspicions, the detectives hid themsclve in a bouse and kept watch on his head quarters with a periscope. As soon as the detectives had satisfied themselves that their suspicions were well-grounded, Harrion was arrested, and a big force of police officers made a midnight descent on the house in Earl’s Court road. They expected to find a ; forgery plant there, but they were 1 amazed to find such an elaborate and up-to-date equipment. ! There was a huge swing camera, measuring sft 9in square, mounted on rails powerful arc lamps, bottles of acids, specially prepared plates, and half a ton .of specially prepared paper. | A plea of guilty was entered_ by Harrison to the charges of being in possession of forging instruments, and to being concerned in a long firm fraud, and the police gave evidence of ,his criminal re- ; cord. Harrison is known to have made, | and spent, at least £5,000 out of crimes I since the war. EXPENSIVELY FURNISHED FLAT. Harrison lived in the best possible stylo at an expensively furnished flat in 'Kensington, and posed as a wealthy man : about town. His persanality is such (hat he bad little difficulty in supporting the role. , His smart appearance and military bearing suggests the army officer rather than the forger and ex-convict. He is the son of a time-serving soldier. He had a food education and every chance in life, %nt has been continually lapsing into crime. TT . j Scotland Yard considers Harrison to be lone of the most resourceful criminals in the country. Out- of one long firm swindle alone, which he worked in the name o) Hymans, he and an accomplice netted a 'clear £30,009. Ho promptly invested £12,000 in foreign securities, i After receiving his sentence Harrison made another brief appearance in court—this time to secure the acquittal of a girl manicurist who had been charged with receiving a stolen fur which she had obtained from him. Harrison went info the witness-box and cleared the girl from the charge, by explaining that he had made her a present of the fur.