Clever Swindle

Northland Age, Volume 28, Issue 55, 29 June 1928, Page 7

Clever Swindle

Well-Told Tale Of Woe Many People Victimised Leading citizens, shrewd busines: men, and shrewder moneylend rs all fell victims, according to the Sydney police, of a clever sw Her, who, acting the part of a dr aulting bank clerk to perfect n robbed them of over £IOOO inti; 3 last few months, without revealing his identity. He has been arrested. His method was ridiculously simple. He would go to his intended victim and tell a tale of woe—For years he had been in the bank as a clerk, he would tearfully explain, and had never done a dishonest act. But circumstances had forced him into taking some money, which he was unable to repay in time to avoid detection. Then he would ask for a loan, and in most cases gQjit. The amounts ranged up to £IOO and to make the case look genuine he would give the name of a respected citizen who could be called to identify him. The men who were defrauded never knew his name, and the police were as much in the dark as they. But at last his scheme went awry. He called upon a big Sydney book-maker and asked for £IOO after telling the usual story, interspersed with well-stimulated sobs. But in the office was a man who recognised him, and the police were called. He got out of the office before Detectives Garlick and Geldart arrived, but they learned his identity, and went to his home at Croydon, placing him under arrest. He is said to have admitted his frauds to them, and told them that he was a big gambler, and had won as much as £I4OO in one day at the races, only to lose it the next time he plunged. A woman of title has complained that she has been victimised by the man.