BRAZEN FRAUDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23850, 28 December 1940, Page 2 (Supplement)

BRAZEN FRAUDS

Soldier Promoted H And Lived a Life of Luxury PEOPLE in the West End of London who were enter- 4 tained by a charming young man with stories of his escape from Dunkirk and his success as a song writer may be surprised to hear that he is now in a Borstal institution, states the News of the World. ...

TIIKV may also be interested to know he had never been to Dunkirk; neither was he a ,second-lieutenant, of the Coldstream Guards, as he claimed, but an ordinary Guardsman, an absentee from his unit. , . Believed to be the sou of a distinguished professor of music in South Africa, the young Guardsman, Leslie Mosley Epstein, aged 10, pleaded guilt} at the Old Bailey to stealing three suits, a Post Office Savings Bank book, and an air pistol; and to obtaining sums of money by means of forged Post Office withdrawal on demand forms. He asked for a number of otber of]ciK-CS to be taken into consideration. Kindness Betrayed. When Epstein arrived in London he was befriended by an actor who allowed him the use of his flat, but in the actor's absence the youth betrayed his kindness, stealing clothing and a Su\ings Bank book. With this book he went to two post offices and obtained sums of C-S and £6. On both occasions he wore an officer S uniform. Epstein admitted his guilt 1111mediatelv he was seen by the police. "J absented myself from my unit,' he said. "Next day I came to London, and was wearing battle dress. 1 borrowed inonev irorn a triend. and bought officer's chevrons, and afterwards posed as an officer." lie went on to say that he subsequently bought an officer's service dross and stayed at a fashionable West End hotel, where he incurred a debt of £4O.

"I am prepared to make full restitu, tion to all parties concerned," Epstein added. Epstein's plausibility can be judged by the kind of stories be told while "in the West End. He used to describe his "experiences at Dunkirk," and told how his friend had been shot through the eyes by the Germans. JTe had composed a song in memory of this friend, ho claimed, and a wellknown firm of song-writers had offered him £IOOO for it. Film j n the "United States were also interested in the work, and the money he was likely to make "frightened him." He actually is "a talented pianist. While staying at the. hotel in the West End, Epstein declared that he had been promoted on the field at Dunkirk, and that he was wounded and had been in hospital. His acquaintances were -impressed. One middle-aged woman became so interested in him that slio allowed him to call her "auntie." Discipline Needed Epstein's life of ease and pleasure was of short duration. He absented him-"' self from his unit on a Saturday and be was arrested about three weeks Inter. Si ill wearing the uniform of an officer Epstein was told by the I'eeorder, Sir Gerald Dodson. that cabaret life may have sapped his strength. Directing that he should he detained at Borstal for a period not exceeding three years, Sir Gerald observed that lie was in need of the discipline and fresh air life j ie would reeeh e there. Epstein stood erect, "with shoulders squared. He had not forgotten the discipline of the barracks square.