PROFESSOR'S ESCAPE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20722, 15 November 1930, Page 2 (Supplement)

PROFESSOR'S ESCAPE.

CONFIDENCE TRICKSTER. BANK MANAGER'S CAUTION. £9OOO COUP PREVENTED. How a medical professor from New York was nearly duped liy an alleged confidence trickster was told to the Loid Mayor of London at tho Mansion House when Frank Wilson, aged 34, described as a traveller, and giving as his address I lie Balmoral Hotel, Queen's Gate, London, was charged with attempting to obtain £9OOO by means of (he confidence trick from Dr. William Laurence Gatewood, who was staying at the same hotel.

Dr. Gatewood, who was on a visit to England, first met Wilson in Westminster Abbey, and was impressed with his powers of conversation. Interviews and lunches followed. Subsequently two other men appeared on the scene, ono of whom was represented to be an amazingly lucky man on the racecourse. The doctor was invited, and consented, to take part in a big stake. Something like £60.000, lie was told, was to be won. In order to " establish his credit," Dr. Gatewood was requested to produce £9OOO. He cabled for the money, and it was deposited at the Canadian Bank of Commerce.

When Dr. Gatewood called for it, the manager declined to part with it until

the doctor had seen the American Consul. The result was that Wilson, who had remained in Dr. Gatewood's company, staying at the same hotel, was arrested.

The Lord Mayor declared that this was a case that could only be adequately dealt with at the Old Bailey.

Dr. Gatewood urged the Lord Mayor to dispose of the matter at once, as he was anxious to get back to New York.

It was intimated that Wilson was prepared to plead guilty to being a suspected person loitering with intent to commit a felony.

■ The Lord Mayor: Well, to meet Dr. Gatewood, and save him any further inconvenience, 1 will deal with the case on that charge. I must say I think the doctor ought, to be very grateful to the bank manager for the action lie took in refusing to part with the £9OOO. Dr. Gatewood: I am most thankful for the kind consideration I have received throughout. Detective-Sergeant Ilogg. of the City Police, stated that Wilson had been previously convicted in Britain and in Australia, where he was known to the police as an expert confidence trickster. Wilson was sentenced to three months' imprisonment. This, the Lord Mayor observed, was the maximum punishment he could inflict, and he considered it totally inadequate.