FRENCH BANK FRAUDS

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 January 1934, Page 5

FRENCH BANK FRAUDS

CHIEF CULPRITS FLIGHT PREVIOUS THEFTS REVEALED [by cable—press ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] (Recd. Jan. 5, 11.30 a.m.). LONDON, January 4. A Paris message states: The Russian financier, Serge Stavisky, who •is wanted in connection with the Bayonne frauds is ’ believed to have fled to Greece, where he will fight against extradition. Stavisky, in 1926, served two years’ detention for cheque frauds, but changed his name to Serge Alexander, and thus, apparently, had a clean record when he went, to the Streesa conference. There he obtained letters of recommendation enabling him to go to the Bank of International Settlements, Basle, and secure a guarantee for £1,280,000 for Hungarian bonds. He extended lavish hospitality to prominent Government officials. A Bayonne message states that the crowd attempted to lynch Tissier, who was arrested in connection with the Stavisky case, when he was being brought from the prison to the Municipal Bank offices. Ten charges filed against Stavisky involve £1,500,000 sterling. His associate, a Parisian music hall director, has disappeared, leaving many workless. Many small investors fear the loss of their life-savings.