WOMAN SWINDLERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4580, 8 June 1917, Page 3

WOMAN SWINDLERS.

EXTRAORDINARY G-ER-MAN CASE. The Berlin bankruptcy and criminal authorities are now engaged in probing the shady affairs of a certain Frau Martha Ivinner and her daughter Gertrude, who have been engaged throughout the war m a gigantic “get-ricli-quick” swindle in connection with food speculation. They duped more than 203 people, including noblemen and noblewomen of standing, into lending sums aggregating £150,000. The Kupfer women promised their rapacious financial backers colossal returns for tlieir money. convincing them that as much as SOO per cent a year could he made from shrewd deals in provisions of which the community was short. Frau Kupfer, who went to Berlin from Leipzig in 191-5, seems to have been a most persuasive and plausible faker. Amounts as high as £SOOO to £25,000 would be thrust upon, her for “investment” by rich people hut she did not- scorn the £5 or £lO contributions of small tradesmen and even domestic servants. To these Kupfer held out the prospect of 224 per cent dividends within ten days. With the funds of her dupes Kupfer led a gay and festive life. She confessed to the police that she was living at the rate of £12,500 per year, wore ISs silk stockings, £5 los chemises. and specialised in champagne dinners. , Her apartments in the West End were so richly stocked with preserves, bacon, ham, wines, cigars, cigarettes, and soap that they resembled a general store.