“NOBLE” CONVICT

Hokitika Guardian, 22 August 1939, Page 7

“NOBLE” CONVICT

GAOLED AT BRISBANE

Sir Frederick James Siddarthaa Affleck, 34, the new ninth Baronet 01. Dalham Hall, Suffolk, who, with his youuger brother, is serving a jail sen fence in Brisbane, is not the only member of a titled family to be put beliilU ircii bars in tne past few years. Ti)e Affleck’s tried to extort money from another young man.

Last month another British aristocrat wont io jail lor extorting money,, but in a different way. He was Victor Hervey, 22-year-010 son of Lord Herbert Hervey, liephew of the Marquis of Bristol, and god-son of the Royal Queen Ena of Spain and Mayfair Enemy No. 1. During the trial Hervey was dubbed a leader of the set notoriously known in London as “the prey-boys of Mayfair night clubs.” “Prey - boys,” the Hervey case showed, frequently bear the titles of England’s oldest families and the ties ol her most reputable schools. Penniless, despite their ancient lineage, they idle in the w r ealth of others. Their only assets are good family connections, smart clothes and disarming personality and patter.

-Hervey and three associates were sent to jail for three years because they pickpocketed jewellery worth £2BOO from a married society woman with whom they had been drinking in a night club. Hervey’s method was described! by the prosecution as typical of the whole new’ race of London “prey-boy” bandits or criminal gigolos, A year ago Hervey appeared, with £5692 v'orth of debts, in tile Bankruptcy Court. But Hervey was only starting then. Money meant nothing to him, and if wasn’t long after leaving the court that he mentioned lie had to get his hands on £IOO for a “frivol” in Paris. He got the £IOO and had his Parisian “frivol.”

His wealthy family connections enabled him to run up huge credits at “bottle” clubs. He owed £7OO at one and £4OO at another, and once spent £2OO on liquor for a party. After, the party, he had to find am other £3OO to repair damage done to furniture and chandeliers by his guests. Soon afterwards he gave a party at which lie . and his guests drank TOGO bottles of unpaid-for champagne. Hervey’s squanderlust and.lavish hospitality soon got him among the money —other people’s money. He and his three companions started their antisocial, career early this year.

Since these four w’ere sentenced etcrv good-class niftlit club .and. hotel, has put the names of known “prey-boys” in a special book, under the heading, “Not to be admitted.” Tailors have black-listed them . from their credit department, and rich women who w ; ere their chief victims have been w'arned against them. Most are well educated, but have a nausea for work. They cultivate all the local niceties of fashion and breeding, dance perfectly, and live on their cnarm and person, ality. , A few days before Hervey and his associates w'ere jailed police were told that a gang of well-to-do “prey-girls” was operating. They, too, practised on wealthy women of social standing, and ingratiated themselves into the highest society. Police arrested Brenda Dean Pan 1 99-yea c-old daughter of Sir Aubrey Dean Paul, Bt. j She was charged with obtaining a bottle of whisky and ginger ale from a store bv false pretences. Since the police and the rest of society have declared war. this new style of gangsterism is on the w r ane.