THE SKETCHES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1523, 28 February 1901, Page 10

THE SKETCHES.

A ROMANCE OF CRIME A CELEBRATED SWINDLER OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. In the annals of swindling offences, the name of Charles Price occupies no inconspicuous position by reason of the finish of his rougeries and the long period he was able to set the authorities at defiance. This swindler was born and lived during the latter half of the last century. The son of an honest, though illiterate, tailor of Seven Dials, he speedily developed those criminal characteristics which eventually brought him into unenviable notoriety.

After serving his father in his saleroom for some years, during which he practised systematic frauds upon the tailor and his customers, he was apprenticed to a hatter and hosier of. St. James’s Street ; but this merely changed the field of his knaveries. His historians have given us an account of one of the deceptions he practised upon his .master, which shows his audacity and histrionic cleverness.

One day, during the absence of the apprentice, enters into the hosier’s shop a gentleman richly dressed and with the airs of a person of quality. The obsequious hosier displays his finest silk goods to this distinguished stranger, who toys with his snuff-box and orders largely. Then he is bowed to the door, having given directions for the purchases to be sent to an address in an aristocratic square in an hour’s time, the bearer to receive the payment. In a little time the apprentice returns, and is despatched with the goods. He brings back no money, but the appearance of the customer andMiis eminently respectable residence disarm the hosier’s suspicions'. The silk goods are never seen again nor are they ever paid for. For the distinguished purchaser was our rogue, Price, masquerading in rich apparel stolen from his father’s shop. But this piece of swindling and others were in time brought home to Price, who finding himself in too hot a corner, suddenly made off. .We next find him acting in the capacity of valet. His love of deception and ready wit proved valuable qualities to one of liis masters, Sir Francis lJelavel. This worthy paid court to a lady of immense wealth, who looked askance upon her suitor. She was persuaded to have her doubts resolved by an interview with a conjuror, from whom she had so glowing an account of the disinterested merits of her lover, and the bliss to be expected from a. match of such suitability that she was fain to return Sir Francis the answer he desired. The conjuror was none other than Saimiel Foote, the celebrated comedian ; but the inception of the scheme must, we think, he attributed to Price.

Price afterwards went on the stage and acted in comedy; but soon relinquished the business for that of a distiller. From this period liis life was one series of frauds.

In order to conceal his identity, he had recourse to various disguises when in active execution of • his swindling schemes. By this means 1 also lie was able to introduce another character into the plot without incurring the danger of entrusting his plans to a confederate. Here is an illustration o fone of his artifices. He represented to a retired and wealthy tradesman that an old gentleman friend of his, named Bond, who had beeii a banker in the city, and who was immensely rich, was desirous of appointing two executors. “At his earnest solicitation/’ said Price, “I have consented to act as one ; and I have mentioned your name as a man of tried integrity who would be willing to make the second. What do you say ?” And be dilated upon the advantages which would accrue to both of them from the position of trust, mentioning, among other things, that the old gentleman had only one relative in the world, an ancient sister, who would no doubt leave the estate to them at her decease. He talked with such purpose that the retired tradesman, excited by cupidity, consented. It was arranged that ooth should visit Mr Bond the next day at noon. But Price sent an excuse, and the tradesman went alone. He was ushered into the presence of the old banker, who was seated in an arm-chair, with his gouty legs cn a stool, and well muffled up. In feeble accents, interrupted by many a hollow cough, he expressed his gratification at his dear friend Mr Price’s co-exe-cutor, and hinted at the substanral manner in which he would reward such service.

For several days the farce was kept up, for of course Bond was impersonated by Price; and on the strength of future gains the credulous tradesman allowed himself to be swindled to the extent of a thousand pounds. Some time before this Price had married a good and gentle woman whose fortune he soon squandered. She was the niece of a Mrs Peunteney, a cunning, unscrupulous creature, fit to be Prices associate, or rather confidante, for he always worked single-handed. -And now came a period when he had. need of such a confidante, for he entered upon a desperate phase of his swindling career m which a false step meant capital punish

nieiit: he contemplated forgery upon the Bank of England. The cleverness of the rogue—a cleverness which, directed to a legitimate object, might have ensured his wealth with the blessing of an easy conscience—is shown by his manner of undertaking this fatal business. In Mrs Pounteney’s house he set up papea* making and engraving plant. Knowing nothing of either of these trades, he learnt them both. And so truly did he turn out the false notes —- so accurately as regards the quality of the paper and water-mark, and the engraving and signature, that only the most expert judge could detect the forgery. Then came the negotiating of these hank notes. At first Price undertook the risky business himself, always in disguise. But the alarm of the Bank of England as these clever forgeries came pouring in produced such vigorous measures to detect the swindler that he was compelled to alter his plans. The public prints minutely described his appearance in his favourite disguises, and big rewards were offered for his apprehension.

This might have deterred even a bold man front engaging further in such perilous work; but it merely drove Price to adopt other methods. He advertised for a young man to serve as attendant to an old gentleman, requesting applicants to address their replies to a certain coffee house. Close upon nightfall a coach drew up at the house of an ingenious young fellow who had answdredl his advertisement. The would-be attendant, who hurried to the coach door, saw in the vehicle a decrepit old gentleman of about 70 years of age buttoned up in a surtout, and wearing a black patch over one eye. A conversation ensued, and the young fellow was accepted by the septuagenarian on behalf of his ward, a young nobleman under age, with prodigal tendencies, who was then in the country. An appointment was made for the next evening at the house of Mr Brank, as Pi'ice now styled himself in' this character of guardian; and the two took a coach and drove to the various lottery offices, at which the young man purchased tickets, banknotes being given him for the purpose. This went on for some time; hut the game was, of course, played once too often. The young man, to liis horror and distress, was apprehended on suspicion of forgery. He was interrogated, and desired to conduct Bow Street officials to the residence of the old guardian, in the hope of trapping the fox. But Price had fled. During the rounds Mrs Founteney had secretly accompanied the young man to the different lottery offices, ready to give Price a signal should anything go wrong, when he would at once drive away to a place of safety.

This performance was repeated again and again with fresh tools, and Price always managed to elude his pursuers, though he had many a narrow escape of being taken. I'n a fresli disguise be would frequent a coffee house near the Royal Exchange, and while there would send a lad to the bank to cash a £lO note. But his messenger had directions not to apply to the cashier with the ticket given him by the teller, but to bring it back to Price, who would alter or add to the figures, and thus increase the amount to which he was entitled. This manipulated ticket was then despatched to the cashier by a new messenger.

This ingenious scheme was Price’s last. Qne of the bank-notes paid over by him in one of these transactions was traced to him, and he was apprehended. In Bow Street, Price carried things with a high hand, denied everything, and showered abuse upon the officials. But as the days went by and evidence against him accumulated, he realised his desperate strait. He sent for his wife and eldest son, and confessed his guilt, to tliedr terror and amazement, for till that moment they had never dreamed that Pi’ice was anything but an honest business man. The sole of the son’s boot was opened and a paper inserted addressed to Mrs Pounteney directing her to destroy all evidences of the bank-note manufacture.

But though this was done, there was sufficient testimony in the hands of the police to destroy him. Feeling that all was at an end, he determined to anticipate his fate, and put a period to his life.

During one of the interviews with his son, he said, in a low tone: “I am wishful to write some papers which would incriminate me should they fall into the hands cf my gaolers. I’ve no means of fastening my door to give me time to conceal them, so you must smuggle in to me a couple of gimlets, and a stout cord. I’ll drive one into each door post, and secure the cord to each. This will prevent sudden interruptions.” The unsuspecting hoy carried out his father's wishes; and on the morning of January 25, 1786, the arch swindler was found hanging; in his cell—dead. —G.P.M.