ROMEO OF CRIME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12740, 17 December 1904, Page 2 (Supplement)

ROMEO OF CRIME.

VERSATILE SWINDLER'S MANY j FRAUDS. . | Is criminal parlance "James Nugent,"' who has been once more condemned to penal servitude for robbing women in the West End, is a "good man" other words, a first-class rogue. And as he stood to attention before Mr. MeConnell, K.C., at Clerk- ■; enwell Sessions,. smilingly indifferent to the recital of his many misdeeds, one could only express surprise and astonishment that such a respectable-looking young man could be the abandoned, heartless wretch he is. Nugent"— of dozens of aliases, including those of William Forester, William Barnard Maidstone, Patrick Henry Lovell. etc., which he used—has a handsome, bronzed face, a fair moustache, and neatly-trimmed beard, his bright, sparkling eves being set deep under a high, intelligent forehead. Altogether, bis appearance justifies the appellation of "the Prince," which was bestowed on him about ten years ago, when he first waded into the treacherous waters of crime. At that time Nugent was second gymnastic instructor m the Coldstream Guards, his manly form and exceptional physique, set off as it was in the picturesque uniform of the regiment, even then being the admiration of the older men and the envy of every raw recruit. Nowadays he has the military figure par excellence. His good looks he retains, for lie is one of few men who thrive on prison fare, and live happily through the monotony of confinement. " Nugent" is one of Nature's actors, a man who can tell lies with a glib tongue and a straight face, who can vow eternal love in most ardent fashion if the lady he is practising the deception on has a banking account. How quickly his "love" cooled it the girl whose chance acquaintance lie had made had not a well-lined purse! His motive was a purely mercenary one. and he wasted no time over the non-favourites of fortune over those with means he would exercise every art and craft to dispossess them of their belongings. He was a "raie hot 'nil with the ladies,'' even in the days of his youth. He was not long out of his teens "when indiscretion and folly compelled him to desert: his regiment in the early part of 1895. He is now 32, and the nine yean that have elapsed have been crammed full of crimKnal episodes, more or less cleverly carried out, the " love" element always being in evidence. After he had left the Coldstream Guards "Nugent" went prospecting at theatres and music halls in search of ladies with wealth. A little incident—the theft of an opal and diamond bracelet worth £100 from a lady he hud met at. the Aquarium— brought him to the Westminster Police Court in September, 1895, and his confession was followed by a sentence of six months' imprisonment. Upon his release he obtained possession of the uniform of a Coldstream Guards' bandsman, and arrayed in that he toured the west em counties. Masquerading as an officer, he rail up heavy, bills at hotels, and gave large orders to tradesmen without ever meeting his liabilities. A year liitei he had arrived at a Newark hotel. There the daughter of the proprietor fell in love with the dashing younir officer, who was so affable, so aristocratic and interesting. One day a valuable gold watch was missing from a boarder's room. " Nugent," hearing of this, counselled the landlord to inform the police immediately, and accompanied him to the police station to complain of the theft. " Nugent" had' previously arranged to take the young lady to Derby. At the railway station he simulated astonishment at discovering that he had left his money at the hotel, and borrowed the lady's purse. It contained £4. and at Derby Nugent" left her on the platform. His army knowledge came in useful to deceive the authorities. He talked of religion, and posed as "a Christian man." But the illusion was speedily dispelled. He borrowed the key of a storeroom "to get his umbrella/' Instead he walked off with portmanteaux belonging to a couple of commissionaires. Shortly afterwards he stole a horse and trap worth £70, and used this to drive out girls of his choree as a preliminary to fleecing them of their money or property. At this time he had taken up lodgings at Uxbridge. and was posing as a right reverend gentleman with only a clerical disguise to back up his plausible statements. Then he turned bis attention to cycle stealing, but the police could not get upon his trail; at last, however, Detective-Sergeant Barrett recognised the "wanted" man on an omnibus near Edge ware Road. "Nugent" saw the officer, aud promptly slid over the guide rail and eluded the detective as he was rushing up the staircase to seize him. Nugent' darted away at a rare pace, and the chase of more than a mile looked like ending in his favour, when a gent'eman laid him low bv a heavy blow on the head with a stick. This was in the midsummer of 1898. and the autumn of 1900 saw " Nugent" released on a ticket-of-leave of nine months from the sentence of three years' penal servitude which bis capture entailed. Almost immediately "Nugent" transferred his attentions to Paris, and bv forged testimonials secured employment as valet to the Mayor of Mayence. His conduct was exemplary until be found an opportunity to decamp to England with 16f<0 francs, money entrusted to the Mayor for charitable purposes. "Nugent" now lost no time in his war against society. He lived in considerable style at the Great Central Hotel, and there made the acquaintance of a lady, a Mrs. - . A little while later, when visit ; her house in Kensington, he appropriated some of her jeweller*", including five rings, three bracelets, four brooches, and a watch, worth nearly £100, and a cheque for the payment of £71. "Nugent." too, crossed the path of an attractive young woman, and by artfully-put questions and a declaration of love ascertained that her life savings amounted to £70 or £80. To transfer this money to himself, "Nugent" adopted an ingenious scheme. During their drives in a trap he had hired from a West End jobmaster lie drew highly-coloured pictures of huge dividends which would arise from an investment in the shares of the Mining Company. The shares were quoted at a good price. " Nugent" said he could obtain them below the market value, and the girl, anxious to increase her worldly possessions. parted with the whole of her savings in exchange for shares. Then " Nugent" disappeared, and the truth leaked out. The "shares" were simpb- prospectuses. The word " prospectus" had b*en ingeniously obliterated. In December, 1900, " Nugent" in suitable travelling garb, with a heavy rug, was seen lingering as if awaiting attention, near six packages of luggage, which were piled up on a truck in the grand hall at Euston. A yortcr inquired if he could be of service. " Well." said "Nugent," thoughtfully. "I don't think I shall travel to-day after all. Trie train arrives .so lute at the other end." " Shall I put it in the cloakroom, sir?" suggested the -porter. "No. thanks, call a cab," said "Nugent." Thereupon a vehicle was drawn up, and "Nugent" coolly superintended the removal of the property. The porter was marvelling at the extravagance of his tip. when a Mr. Dorman, managing director of Phipp's Brewery. Northampton, arrived on the scene with his wife. " Where's my luggage?" he demanded : " it was left here while we had luncheon." The porter nearly had a (it. He had assisted a thief to steal property worth £300. Meanwhile " Nugent" had taken apartments ir» a respectable house near Tufnell Park, and the luggage was carted in. Amongst the packages was a heavily-laden Christmas hamper. " Nugent," cutting the string, announced that it was a present from a friend, and invited tire landlady and several of her friends to celebrate his entry into her establishment right royally, by drinking a few bottles of wine, which he proceeded to produce and uncork. That, however, was the landlady's only reward. A few days later "Nugent" left the house surreptitiously, together with the stolen luggage. Th* next that was heard of him was that he had taken up residence in the Hotel, Windsor, with a lady. Both lived extravagantly, expensive champagne dinners and carriage drives forming only incidents in the day's routine. The hotel bill in a week lia/> run up to £50. "Nugent" was badly in want of mouev for other purposes, and he thought Out the following plan:—From Mr. > Dorman's luggage lie took => sheet of that gentleman's private notepaper. and on it itched in imitation printed character.'*, to

prevent his handwriting being known, this message:—- ,

If Mr. T. P. Dorman, on receipt of this, will send a telegraph money order for £50 to A. Bruce, Post Office, Ealing, he will have all his property, books, papers, etc., restored to him intact. Any notification, to the police authorities will prevent A. Bruce from restoring Mr. and Mrs. Dorman's valuable belongings. Unless Mr. T. P. Dorman transmits "the"£so immediately his property will be destroyed."

The money was telegraphed at once. "A. Bruce," or' "Nugent," turned up at the office. He entered cautiously. There was no one present but the officials, and he asked for the order. Suddenly, three of the " officials" threw off iheir disguise, and disclosed themselves as detectives. " Nugent" made no defence, and was sentenced to four years' penal servitude, besides having to complete nine months on his forfeited ticket-of-leave. That was in January, 1901. By good conduct in gaol " Nugent"' earned a remission of his sentence, and was set at liberty on September 3 last. Scotland Yard had sold some of his belongings, and, together with his prison gratuity, the amount lie received after leaving the gaol gates totalled £5 IDs. Nine days later be had recommenced his career of crime by posing modestly as "an American student," and recently he pleaded guilty to stealing a cigarette-holder. £2, and a cheque-book from Edith Griffith, a tobacconist, living in Charing Cross Mansions: and obtaining 3s from Ethel May. of Great Portland-street, and 5-s from Marie Stratton. of To'.mer Square, N.W. Miss Griffith was summoned from her shop to meet an "old friend" at her flat. She found prisoner, a stranger to her, lounging in her room, smoking from her cigarette-holder. After spinning a yarn to her he seized the opportunity, while she left the room, to steal her purse, the holder, and a cheque-book, and decamp. He afterwards gave worthless cheques for £5 leach: to the other women, whom he accosted and accompanied home and borrowed sunlit .of money from them. One of them, an American girl, said that " Nugent" wore such large boots that, rather than trouble the servant, she cleaned them herself, after manicuring his toes and fingers and shaving him. Detective-Sergeant Vanner, in informing the Court of the prisoner's career, said he had since passed nine cheques on young women with whom he spent the night, and from whom he obtained a few shillings to par his ecb fare. The judge remarked that he remembered "Nugent" well. and sentenced him to three years' penal tcrviUub.