“King of Card-Sharpers”

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6815, 19 January 1929, Page 13

“King of Card-Sharpers”

SWINDLED THE WORLD Confounded by Conjuror WITH a jaunty air that has always been one of his chief assets, a remarkable character received a sentence of six months’ hard labour- at the Guildhall, London. He is Ernest Robert Gleeson, 44, who described himself as a clerk, and gave a false address. , .

The charge against. Gleeson, of obtaining a meal on credit by false pretences from a. restaurant, appeared quite a “come-down,” considering his amazing career. Prisoner boldly tried to carry o2 the situation by remarking to the magistrate, “By gad, sir, I shall really have to give notice of apieal. Frankly, I am going to be sportsmanlike in this matter. I am gofag to show that I was in tact intoxicated." A doctor stated that when Gleeson was arrested 1 there were no signs that he iad been drinking. “] can prove,” added Gleeson, “that on 'his day I had 15 double whiskies and 20 bottles of beer, which I carried like a man of the world,” and I could do t again. I submit that this is quite a snail matter, and the Court might well dismiss me with the admonition, ‘Go md sin no more.’ ” A: detective-sergeant produced information showing that Gleeson had been convicted in New York, and deport'd from Canada.

“WHAT A RECORD!" “That a record!” commented the magstrate, Alderman Sir Alfred Bover, after glancing down the sheet. “Veil,” was Gleeson’s calm retort, “it sn’t for anything very bad, after all. I have suffered for it, and yet heri I am, at 44, merry and bright, andmanaging to keep smiling.” lie record showed that prisoner, in the heyday of his career, was a veritabl< “king of cardsharpers,” who fou:d several countries too hot to comin him. IJte a good many more evildoers, Gleson, who was born in Lancashire, beloged to a respectable family, and driled in the wrong direction after reciving a first-class education. He deeaed it advisable to leave his country if ter several convictions had been regitered against him for theft and larcny. Gleeson was on his way to theßtates when he realised how easy it us to find victims at cards, and, hang been a clever amateur card trie exponent, he decided to turn his

skill to advantage. Thenceforth, for about five years, he spent most of his time “working” the liners, until there was not a ship’3 company travelling between New York and England that did not know him. REGARDED AS MAN OF WEALTH So clever was Gleeson in swindling operations that for a long time he was unsuspected. Speaking five languages fluently, of good addr<ps, and apparently a world-wide traveller, he was looked upon as a man of wealth, who took sea voyages for health reasons. Such was his charm of manner and general plausibility that no complaints were made by other passengers regarding their losses, and Gleeson was careful not to overdo his winnings. He enjoyed immunity until one day a man, well known on the stage and himself something of a conjuror, was fascinated by the amazing hands of cards which Gleeson held from time to time when there was a big pool. He watched carefully and at length detected his man cheating. Needless to say Gleeson was warned off that boat. He next figured very successfully in gambling exploits in various New York clubs, until he became involved in a big card-sharping swindle, and was deported to England as an undesirable alien. For a time Gleeson turned his attention to the Continent, and there he resumed card-sharping manoeuvres, and reaped a rich harvest from well-to-do passengers on South African boats. WARNED OFF SHIPS

Eventually the ships’ captains, being unable to prove that Gleeson was actually sharping would not permit him to engage in any game of cards on board. Again the suspect had to find other means to live, and this time he resorted to the expedient of entering passengers’ cabins when they were out and stealing their valuDiscovery came at length, and Gleeson was put ashore at Rio do Janeiro and warned not to attempt to get

aboard any of that company’s vessels again. In a dilemma he called on the British Vice-Consul, and asked for a passage to England. After making inquiries, however, the Vice-Consul refused, whereupon Gleeson produced a revolver and threatened to murder him. In consequence he was deported from Rio.,

Gleeson became so notorious on Atlantic and other liners that he was warned off every boat, ships’ detectives declaring that he was a “King of Cardsharpers,” the cleverest they had seen for years. While “working” liners Gleeson actually travelled with a valet and an expensive • wardrobe, and this in itself disarmed suspicion. France was the next place to be closed against Gleeson, who then resorted to less spectacular methods of crime. In Liverpool lie made the acquaintance of a pretty barmaid, pretended to be very much in love with her, and gave her some stolen scent; In the end he disappeared with every penny the girl had. For some time Gleason’s movements had been a mystery, until he turned up at the Guildhall recently.