PRINCE OF SWINDLERS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVI, Issue 195, 17 August 1912, Page 6

PRINCE OF SWINDLERS.

"SIR PIARRY WESTWOOD."

FAMOUS CRIMINAL IN SYDNEY

Harry Westwood, alias Dr Milton Abraham —an international crook, whom the police declare to be one of the cleverest criminals in the world— is believed to be in New Sou,th Wales (says the Sydney Sun). The suspect has been receiving the attentions of the police in Sydney for some days past, and so satisfied are they that he is identical with Westwood, or Cooper, that they have already cabled information to San Francisco, South Africa, Canada, and- England. Some weeks ago the InspectorGeneral, of Police, shortly after the arrival in Sydney of a steamer from an oversea port, received a visit from a passenger, who made certain complaints against the doctor of the vessel. Mr Day issued • instructions for an inquiry to be. made, and the result satisfied him that the supposed doctor was a man who answered the description of an- individual whose photograph and records are in every rogue*'s gallery in the world. Some months ago the suspect was very nearly caught on a charge of working a swindle in another country, through forged orders on a Sydney bank, and he decided to leave the country and como on to Australia. It is stated that several years ago he was a medical student in Edinburgh, but failed to complete his medical course. Since- then he has occasionally practised as a medical man. Being forced to leave the country he was in a few months ago, he joined a steamer bound for Australia, and became the ship's, doctor. :

On the arrival of the vessel in Sydney, the man who is alleged to be Westwood left for a country town, and started practice there. ' . ' Sir Harry Westwood Cooper is the bogus Baronet wanted in San Francisco for making bigamy a haUit. This clever criminal has had .a >nost remarkable career.

He worked-in Sydney from 2*89 to 1891, and was tried but acquitted on charges of obtaining money by • false pretences in connection with which he represented himself as the heir to vast estates in England. In 1893 he was prosecuted on a similar charge, and was sentenced to eighteen months' imprisonment. ' , Two years later, as the police allege, he married in Sydney a Miss Helen Scott, whom j however, he soon deserted. He then.fled to Brisbane, and while there, in June, 1896, courted, and finally married, another girl.' In the following August he sailed for England. The bogus knight subsequently -went to America, and in Philadelphia, towards the end of 1896, he was again in trouble in connection with, a -worthless cheque for £10,000. Making his way to Canada, he visited Toronto, and during his stay in that city ho is said to have occupied the pulpit of the Presbyterian Church.

After having contracted another bigamous marriage, the "Doctor" turned up in. Chicago, where he js allowed to have fleeced his landlaay of JSIOOO by means of forged drafts.

In 1897 he made his appearance in San Francisco, and having deserted his latest wife, planned an' elopement with a young lady living in that city. Towards the end of the year he again found himself in the hands of the police charged' with forgery, in connection with which lie was convicted and sentenced to three years.

While ■ $ef ving his time in San Quentin gaol ho is alleged to have formed a plan for the murder of the prison guards in order to escape the period of solitary confinement to which he was condemned.

He was discharged from San Quentin in 1901, but he had not been out of gaol long before ,he . was again arrested. Ho was released on parole only last year, after having served; another sentence, and the offence for which he is now being sought is that of having attempted to forge a draft for £3000 on the Oakland National Bank.