A CLEVER SWINDLER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10629, 18 December 1897, Page 2 (Supplement)

A CLEVER SWINDLER.

CAST OFF BY A WOMAN, HE TAKES REVENGE. AT the Central Criminal Court, beforo the Recorder, a foreigner, who persistently refused to disclose his name or his antecedents, bub who was, for convenience, indicted as Baron De Gourvello, pleaded guilty to a series of clever frauds and mean robberies. prisoner, whoo called on to plead, maintained a stoical silonco, and tho i'ecordor said he should direct an entry to bo made that the prisoner was mute "of malice"— record that in former days would havo consigned tho prisoner to tho process of squeezing in tho regions below, but whioh in this instance involved nothing more than his being taken back to prison until he should become more tractable. On the following day, however, in oxcollont English, tho prisoner admitted everything charged against him, which proved him to bo one of tho most clover swindlers ond criminals who had appeared in the dock for a very long time. Mr. Humphreys, who prosocuted, said that the frauds charged against tho prisoner in the present case had boen committed by his forging and passing a number of circular ten-pound notes. These notes had boon stolon on tho Continont, and all wore traced to tho possession of the prisoner. The prisoner had operated with them largely on Messrs. Cook and Sons, tho well-known tourist agonts. He began at Brighton, where he purchased with one of tho circular notes certain tickets and coupons. Ho then came to Loudon, and visited in succession nearly all tho branches of tho firm in tho various districts, devoting his skill, most successfully, not only to tho passing upon them a second circular note, but to successively chancing the tickets by going from office to office for othors of loss value, and

so receiving good English money as ohango. In another ease, that of the Grosvonor Hotol, he paid a bill of £1 odd with a noto, receiving over £8 in change. The lasb case against the prisoner was a vory moan one. In August he mot at the Oxford Music Hall one of tho young lady artists, to whom lie represented himself as an agent, and promised to gob hor engagements in Paris. She said sho was scarcely prepared with the money to go there, and he gave her one of tho forged ton-pound notes, and then, saying he was temporarily without change, borrowed a sovereign. He also arranged to meet her the noxb morning to take her for a drive, and went to hor lodgings. While she was in the bedroom dressing, however, ho stole her gold bracelets, and going' downstairs drove away without her, and was only seen again whon in custody. The prisoner had obtained altogether by moans of the notes large sums of money. In conclusion, Mr, Humphreys said it was only through the exceedingly clover nnd exhaustive inquiries made by Detective-inspector Arrow that they had been able to ascortain who the sham count really was. Detective-inspector Arrow said lie had ascertained that the prisoner was a Russian Jow. His correob name was Peltzer, bub ho was known best as Maurice Quttmann, and was very well oducated. Early in 1892 ho committed a series of larcenies and frauds in Paris,, and received five years' imprisonment and ten years' police supervision. On March 24, on his release, he was expelled from Franco, bub seemed to hare returned and to havo committed a series of potty robberies on gay women and music hall artists. In ono case he stole a cheque-book, which ho had made use of both abroad and in this country. nliittiiEss deception.

He was an associate of a gang of clever Continental pickpockets, from whom he had obtained the circular notes lb quostion. He had committed frauds by. means of them in Paris, Brighton, Eastbourne, Hastings, and London. Witness had now to inform the Court of a heartless deception' and robbery committed by the prisoner, demonstrating that ho was nob only a clover swindler and thief, but a consummate actor, He went to. the Key..Mr. Welford, and represented to him that he was a contrite sinner in need of spiritual advice and assistance, flo gave the name• of = some people in Paris, who, lie,said, were his father and mother, to whom ho wished to become reconciled. Ho represented that he had been led astray by a lady Who had induced him to ruh away from home. This lady had afterwards run away from 1 him, stealing his jewels and money, and leaving him destitute. The rev. gentleman was completely deceived, and, after inviting him to tea, went off to seek the assistance of his bishop. He also wrote a letter to the prisoner's parents destined to pave the way to the desired reconciliation, and gave ib to the prisoner, whoso gratitude was so great that be was unable to speak.' Tears ran down his cheeks, and all he could do Was to grasp the. clergyman's hand. Tho result was that ■ the clergyman purchased first-class tickets and took the prisoner to Paris, putting tip at the Terminus Hotel., That same night, in the temporary absence of the clergyman, i tho prisoner, stole his gold watch, chain,: silver.trinkets, and other property to the valuo of £100, and the return half of the first-class ticket, and, disappeared. The rev. gentleman after*. wards found that the alleged father and mother knew nothing Of the prisoner. Mean* time tho prisoner had promptly disposed of the gold watch in Paris, and be returned to London with the return ticket. The prisoner then addressed the Court, giving bis own account of his career, which, ho said, was that) of many a young man of good position in those days. Ho was brought up the pride of his parents, and everything looked bright for, him. But a temptress came in the shapo of a beautiful.woman, and ho ■• sacrificed, everything—father, bother, and family. For a time his life Was a dream; a heaven; then he found himself in hell. <• The woman rah away and left him in gay Paris a broken man in heart! and body. He determined to have revenge bn the sex, and to' punish tliem as they had punished him-'to triakd them love him, and then to cast them away.' Then he began' bis life of an adventurer.! He. did nob plead for ' lenienoy nowjvonly thab the Recorder, would "promise' him- that," when he cams from prison, someone should be there to meet him and give him a helping band. u; The) Redorder said lie was satisfied that the prisoner: had been living Jby swindling' the whole of his life, and \ that' nob only Was he an accomplished scoundrel, bub a clover actor. He had appealed for' a helping f; hand.' In e this country - such *- a thing was given to all prisoners who really wished it. ~ He was afraid'the Wish Was not genuine 'in'.A great many ; cases/ He sen-' tenced . the prisoner to \ five ,'; years' ,j penal servitude and five years' police supervision, and joined in the commendation of Inspector .Arrow,' .. ' ' •"' ; * s '-' ,!i -'. ! '-',;'» !iW :'