CRIME WITHIN THE LAW

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22391, 11 April 1936, Page 2 (Supplement)

CRIME WITHIN THE LAW

Confidence Trickster's Beautiful Decoy [WEALTHY CANADIAN FLEECED OF A FORTUNE

By EDWIN T. WOODHALL

(Copyright Reserved) The author is an internationally-celebrated detective. He wai a member of the Special Branch, New Scotland Yard, and very frequently acted as guarding detective to Royalty.

who assist "con-men" — confidence tricksters —are criminals of a special type, chosen by men whose livelihood is gained from the swindling of their dupes. If I were asked whether there are any female master-minds in crime I should reply at once that there are not. If I had to make one or two exceptions, they would only serve to prove the general rule that woman's part in crime is usually that of the accomplice and the decoy. In other words, they provide "good scenery" for male crooks.

up the case as hopeless, George and Eileen —with whom, as 1 have said the Canadian was passionately in love—took him for a trip round Europe: Paris, Vienna, the Lido, the South of France. Monte Carlo. They went on to New York and various parts of South America. In two years, cards, betting, and general dissipation exhausted the whole of his huge fortune, when, of course, George and Eileen had no further use for him. Then his fate overtook him. Deserted by his "friends." he went in for a mad orgy of incessant drinking in Berlin. One night, in £tn almost crazed and helpless condition, he attempted to cross one of the main thoroughfares. He was knocked down and seriously injured by a large car. For some time he lay in an unconscious condition, and the German hospital authorities could not discover either who the "unknown man" was or where he came from. Eventually he rallied, and disclosed his identity. His solicitors in Canada and in London were cabled and, accompanied by their principal managing clerk, I flew to Berlin to make-the necessary arrangements for his journey to Canada, whither I was to accompany him. The World Before Him I found him in the ward pale and bloodless. His face lit up with a faint smile when he saw me. I thought, and still think, what a handsome kid he was—only twenty-five. I sat down bpside his bed, and for a few seconds not a word was passed. Then: "Well, Sherlock Holmes! I guess you win, old pal." "Oh, that's all right—don't let's talk about it," I laughed. I went on to tell him about the new arrangements, and what his sister wanted him to do. I told him I was to take him home, and that in time he would forget, for ho was young and had the world before him. For two weeks I stayed in Berlin and saw hirn making steady improvement. I know he was looking forward to the ocean trip to put him right, and in good spirits ire both took our place in a special state cabin en route for Canada.

Your "gentlemen crook" is no fool and in his woman decoy and partner he demands personality, appearance and social connection. Women who possess these qualifications and criminal tendencies form a class of their own. There are very few of them. Certainly not'more than fifty throughout the whole world. I know, or knew of, most of them.

As they work internationally they come within the scope of the police of London, New York, Paris, Vienna, Berlin, and other capitals, but so far only about eight convictions have been recorded against them. I am speaking, of course, of the really great women decoys. There are thousands of "small fry" who act as decoys; but the type to which I refer was represented fully in a woman whom I shall call Eileen. Rich Woman Crook This beautiful woman —still young and still attractive — is now living in London. She has a luxurious house in Knightsbridge. In addition she owns an expensive bungalow on the Thames at Maidenhead, and a big freehold mansion on tlie Yorkshire coast, near Scarborough. She has also a villa in Avignon ih the South of France, another really magnificent place in the mountains of Northern Italy, and a yacht which is kept in commission all the year round. In Southern California she owns a ranch. Her business connections and interests are enormous. She is received by the best people; she lives on a high plane, her affairs are in the hands of one of the greatest firms of solicitors in England, and her brokers and bankers are the biggest in the cities of London, New York and Paris. But she is a crook! In 1914, this woman was a waitress in a London cafe. Not only is she beautiful, but she possesses that charm which men find irresistible. One day George, a great "con-man," walked into the cafe. He took a liking to the charming waitress, and, in due course, he initiated her into his "graft."

I noticed that as the coast of Europe gradually faded he changed, and it was as much as I could do to get a word out of him. He remained in this mood all the way across, and it was hard

A Fool And His Money At Monte Carlo in 1922 George and Eileen came under my notice in consequence of a commission which I undertook for a large firm of solicitors. The victim, their client, was a rich young Canadian, in whose interests they were acting as agents of a large and important iirm of attorneys in Ottawa. They were perturbed at the large sums he was spending in Europe, and wanted discreet inquiries made. I was given the job of finding out where his money had gone. He had just inherited £350,000. When I came on the scene he was in the hands of George and Eileen. 1 lived in the same hotel as they did, well supplied with money, and a wardrobe second to none. I could see which way the wind was blowing. I knew George to be a clever international crook, but I did not at that time know the woman. After about a week I thought I had better disclose the state of affairs to the London lawyers, and I travelled by train to Paris, thence to London by aeroplane. The lawyers gave me written authority to make myself known to the young Canadian. I was to tell him who I was, .warn him of his associates, and, jf necessary, call in the assistance of the French police. This was easier said than done. I discovered the young man had fallen in love with Eileen, and she had secured a loan of £IOO.OOO from him. No criminal offence whatsoever!

Open Accusation I got the three of them into tho Canadian's room and openly accused George and Eileen of being crooks, working in collusion. All I got for my Eains was a threat from the Canadian: 0, would knock me down if I dared to say another word against the woman he loved! I think my attitude must have "put the wind up" the two crooks, for the next day all three left suddenly, and it took me some time to get on their trail once more. They had purposely taken every precaution to hide their tracks. However, plenty of money and the assistance of my old Parisian detective friend, Henri Gillard, at last put me on the trail. Meanwhile, George was making full use of his opportunities. He posed as a great bookmaker and he interested the Canadian pretty thoroughly in horses. He could afford to appear rich and influential, for had he not capital amounting to £IOO,OOO, which his woman accomplice had "borrowed" from their dupe?

I realised that no law in the world could touch them. If a man lends money to a woman in such circumstances — well, that is the end of the matter. The trick is as old as the world. I wanted Scotland Yard to get him, if possible, in England—and I took two of my ex-colleagues into my confidence.

"The Supreme Touch" Both, like myself, were extremely doubtful of the issue. But they agreed that, as I was acting in a private capacity and making confidential investigations for the Canadian's solicitors, and had the means of obtaining "inside" information, the crooks would undoubtedly trip themselves up sooner or later. • Then we could get a ' warrant for their arrest for obtaining money by false pretences—always provided that the victim would charge them. I had my doubts, but went on trailing them. Well, George and Eileen brought the victim over to England to see the Derby. George had sound information about that year's Derby winner, Captain Cuttle, and in his lordly fashion he told the man to back it heavily. The young Canadian said: "All right, I'll back it with you!" George laid him ten to one' to £SOO. As everyone knews, Captain Cuttle won, and George paid out. This gesture was the supremo touch. After that my poor young friend was lost. The story from this time 'onward is * m the extreme. After I had given

work to persuade him to take a constitutional turn on deck before turning in for the night. On the night before he entered the St. Lawrence he confided in me that he would never be the same again, and made me promise that if ever I saw her again I was to tell Eileen that he "would never cease to remember her." Little did I know how soon I was to keep my promise. Two months afterwards he was dead.

The following year I was at Royal Ascot, and while strolling in the Grand Enclosure I noticed among the crowds of strikingly beautiful women and handsome men a distinguished-looking couple who stood out among them all. It was George and Eileen!" Both spotted me. I smiled and bowed, and they returned the salution. Thus encouraged, I made toward them and was soon greeting them as I would do any ordinary everyday acquaintance. After a little fencing I had an opportunity of giving her the message which was constantly in my mind.

For a few seconds she made no answer. Then to her companion she said: "Well, we shall miss the next race. Good-bye, Mr. Woodliall. Tf our Canadian friend chose to have a good time —well, that is all there is to it. The fool!" she hissed, and swept past me!