“SWANK OF ENGLAND”

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 August 1933, Page 2

“SWANK OF ENGLAND”

CONFIDENCE MEN SENTENCED.

LONDON, July 1. Determination to put down the possession of “Swank of England” notes, which form part of the stock-in-trade of confidence tricksters, was expressed by the Recorder, Sir Ernest Wild, K.C., at the Old Bailey yesterday. Before him were Henry Lennon, 46, engineer, and Thomas George Martin, 35, independent, who were found guilty of obtaining £lOO by a confidence trick from Mr Wright, an Australian, and a diamond ring from his wife. It. was stated that Martin told them he had come from Australia about a fortune of £600,000 left him by an uncle, £60,000 of which he had to distribute. Mr and Mrs Wright were induced to part with £lOO and the ring to show good faith. When arrested the accused were each in possession of a “Swank of England” note, folded to look like a £5O bank note. This formed the subject of another charge, the Bank of England prosecuting. Mr G. R. McClure, for the Bank, said they brought before the Courts on every possible occasion people found with “Swank of England” notes in their possession. Some years ago “Bank of Engraving” notes were used and the Bank prosecuted the print-; Ol'S.

Detective-Inspector McPh,erson said that Lennon’s first conviction was at Sydney, Australia, in 1919, for robbery. He had also been convicted at Plymouth and in Dublin.

Martin was sent, to prison at Sydney, Australia, in 1915, as a suspected person. He had other convictions at Sydney. Melbourne, and London, and was now serving a. sentence <’f three months. Lennon was sentenced to 14 months’ hard labour and Martin to 20 months.