A CLEVER SWINDLE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LVI, Issue LVI, 31 May 1909, Page 3

A CLEVER SWINDLE.

AUDACIOUS PLANS SUCCEED. £600 IX GOLD AND £1400 IN NOTES STOLEN. On Saturday it was reported l by cable that King had been committed for trial in connection with "the Windell bank frauds." The crime — one of the smartest and most ingenious bank frauds of recent 3 7 ears — was brought under the notice of Scotland Yard towards the end of September. The Daily News told the following story of the affair. The frauds were committed on seven branches of the London and South Western Bank, all situated in the southern suburban side of the metropolis. A sum of £2030, made up of £630 in gold and £1400 in £5 and £1(3 notes, is involved. The branches of the London, and South Western Bank affected were, Vauxhall, Clapham, Belham, Streatham, Dulwich, Forest Hill, and Catford. The modus operandi adopted by the swindler was the same in each case, and the circumstances under which the coup was carried out pointed to a very intimate knowledge of banking routine lon the part' of the perpetrator. On Wednesday, September 23rd, each of the managers of the branches in the South of London received v an official communication from the manager of the Harlesden branch stating that a client, "Mr D. Stanley Windell," was transferring his account of £750 from Harlesden to that particular branch. SECRET CODE USED. It was also intimated that the client would call at those banks in "a day or two," and introduce himself in person. The official form was in order in every way; it bore' the correct code word of the bank, probably the most important feature which would go to disarm suspicion. These code words are required to be attached to every letter dispatched from a bank, however trivial in character. They are sent from the head office at the beginning of each week, one word for each day of the ■ week, the code thus being different every day. The six codes are sent weekly, not daily. < , ' Notifications were received by thirteen branch managers, including those victimised; the other branches receiving the forms were: — Stockwell, Crofton Park, Sydenham, Tulse Hill, and Tooting. Even the postage stamp on the envelope was perforated with the' usual bank impression. This again would be instrumental in disarming any suspicion. The procedure adopted for applying for the money appears to have been identical, the managers all agreeing on this point. In one or two cases the permanent managers were away on holiday, their places being taken by deputy-managers. Vauxhall was the first of the banks to be visited. About 10 o'clock a taxicab drove up to the door, and from it alighted a well-dressed gentleman, carrying a small brown bag and umbrella, with silver embossed handle. When the cab stopped a gentlemanlylooking fellow of about 30 years of age stepped briskly out. He was wearing a black suit, over which was an overcoat of light, rough cheviot cloth, black tie, and silk hat, with mourning band. He also wore a gold pince-nez, which he adjusted from time to time. The bag and umbrella he carried iff. his left hand. ■ 1 DRAWING THE MONEY. " "Good morning," he remarked, affably. "Can I see the manager, please?" The visitor w^s ushered into my room. I noticed him particularly, and a curious thing impressed itself upon me. During the whole of the time, about ten minutes, he was in the room he kept his hat en. He was about sft Bjn in height, and spoke with the air and manners of a gentleman. l "I am Mr Windell/'- He said. "You have received a.Yiotincation from HarJesdej], respecting the transfer of my account to this bank?" "I arcjuiescecL." the m&i&gsr related" afterwards, "and expressed ' the hope of continuing his account for some time. At my request he wrote his signature m the book, and again his ordinary cheque signature. These tallied in every detail with the writing on my official form. "I am buying a bouse* in this district," he said. "By the* by, I will draw a cheque now. Let me have a book, please. This was obtained, and he wrote out a cheque for £290. 'I will take the odd £90 in gold,' he said; 'please give me four £10 notes and the rest in fibers.' This was done. 'You might send my cheque-book on to my private address, 93, Craven Park road, Harlesden,' he said, just as he was about to leave. ' I am going down to Windsor races, and don't want to carry my cheque-book with me down there.' "Everything was in perfect order," continued the manager. "The cheque was made out to 'self,' and signed 'D. Stanley Windell.' There was nothing in his bearing or attitude to excite the slightest suspicion. He put the gold in his overcoat side pocket, and the notes he carefully placed in a case taken from his inside coat.' On the official form I i received from the Harlesden manager j the signature was apparently absolutely perfect. Of course, it was a most clever forgery." The frauds were not discovered, until one of the branch mana^ er § wro^ \q the Harlasden manager thanking him for transferring the "new client." f hen enquiries were instituted, arid it was found that other banks had been victimised to the same extent. On com- "" parison at the head office the proceedings as related by the various managers tallied in each case, and Scotland Yard was at once acquainted with the facts

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