FORGER’S SECRET METHODS

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 December 1933, Page 4

FORGER’S SECRET METHODS

CHEQUE FRAUDS ON BANKS. Secret methods for altering and forging cheques were mentioned at the Old Bailey recently, when two men, described' as members of a gang which had victimised banks to the extent of thousands of pounds, appeared before Judge Whiteley. KU. Victor Bakke?, 30, pleaded guilty to receiving letters and 'forgery, and Arthur George Cooley, 32, auxiliary postman, to stealing letteds. Mr Gerald Dodson, prosecuting, said Bakker was "a professional forger—if you can have a profession of that kind.” Police visited his lodgings and found him sitting at a table surrounded by implements and chemicals. “I don’t propose to give lira secrets away,” remarked Mr Dodson, “but there he was in the midst of this paraphernalia operating on cheques. Since January. 19.32. lie has been • the pen-

man of ?a gang. “I don’t, think he was a skilled operator in the first instance, but he succeeded to that high office later on, and for some time past his has been the hand which has made these frauds possible. Frauds have been perpetrated on a large scale and the banks of this country, particularly in London, for the last two years, have been victimised to the extent of thousands of pounds by these forged cheques.” Mr Dodson explained that the letters were collected bi' men like Cooley and handed over to Bakker. Those that did not contain cheques -were darefully returned Cooley aj bein'; no use to his “master.”

SPECIAL LIQUID. When Bakker had mastered the signatures on the cheques there would be an order for a cheque book. When it became difficult to obtain a. cheque hook in this W'a.y, Bakker and his associates enlarged their activities to

the extent of housebreaking and robbery in order to get cheque books. Bakker had a special liquid for erasing crossings on cheques, the ingredients being known only to him. The judge: Has Bakker been supplied with letters by others besides Cooley?

Mr Dodson: He has had the misfortune of losing most of his friends. Many of them are now doing penal servitude. (Laughter.). i

Detective-Inspector Copley said that Bakker had drifted info crime after working honestly for many years. It was not known exactly when he became connected with the gang of forgers, but he had lived for sojas time at the address of a letter-box thief.

Two members of tho gang had been sentenced at the Old Bailey, and their arrest broke up the organised team. Bakker had been forging since the beginning of 1932. The frauds on the banks had stopped since his arrest. Replying to Mr John Maude, for the defence. Witness said he would give

Bakker credit for not “splitting on” anyone who had worked with him. The judge:: Do you believe in honour among thieves? —Yes, although I am a policeman. Bakker was sentenced to three years’ penal servitude. Sentence of nine months’ imprisonment was passed on Cooley.