A ROMANCE OF CRIME

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4295, 2 March 1901, Page 2 (Supplement)

A ROMANCE OF CRIME

.A CELEBRATED SWINDLER OF THE EIGHTEENTH t'ENTFitY.

lu the anuiiis of .swindling offences, tho name of Charles Price occupies no inconspicuous position by reason of the finish of iiis rougcries and the long period he was able to set. the authorities at defiance.

This swindler was liorn and lived during the latter half of the- last century. Tho son of an honest, though illiterate, tailor of So.-on Dials, he speedily developed those criminal characteristics winch eventually brought him into unenviable notoriety.

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

One clay, 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 Iris finest silk goods to this distinguished stranger, who toys with Id's snuff-box and orders largely. Then lie is bowed to the door, having girtfh directions for tbe purchases to be sent.. to an address- in an ari.ste.rral :c square in au hour's time, the bearer to receive the payment. In a little time the apprentice returns, and is despatched with tlir goods. Ho brings hack no money, but tbc appearance of the customer nnd-Jiis eminently respectable residence disarm the hosier’s suspicions. The silk goods are never seen again nor are they ©vor 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 homo to Price, who finding himself in too hot a corner, slid deni v made off.

Wo next find him aefing in Die capacity of valet. His lovo of deception and ready wit proved valuable qualities to cue of his masters. Sir Francis */clave!.

This -worthy paid court to a lady of immense wealth, who looked askance upon her suitor. Sho was persuaded to luuo her doubts resolved by an interview with a conjuror, from whom sho had so glowing an account of the disinterested merits of her lover, and the bliss to bo expected from a match of such suitability that she v.ts fain to return Sir Francis the answer be desired. The conjuror Was acnc oilier than Samuel Foote, the celebrated comedian; but the inception of the sellonio must, we •think, be attributed to Price.

Prieo after wards went on the stage and acted in comedy; but soon relinquished the. business for that, of a. distiller. From this period bis 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' also lip - was able to introduce another character into tho plot without incurring the danger of entrusting his plans to a confederate.

Hero is an illustration o fonc of his artifices. '

He represented to a retired and wealthy tradesman that an old gentleman friend of his, named Bond, who-had been a banker in tho 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 do make tlio second. What do you say?” And ho dilateu upon the advantages which would accrue to both of them from the position of trust, mentioning, among other tilings, that the old gentleman had only one relative in the world, an, ancient sister, who would no doubt leave tho estate to them at her decease. Ho tallied with .such purpose that the retired tradesman, excited by cupidity, consented. It was arranged that noth should visit Mr Bond tho next day at noon. But Prico sent an excuse, and the tradesman went alone. Ho 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 substanial manner in which he would reward such service.

For several clays the. farce was kept up, for of ccmrse Bond was impersonated by Price; and on the strength of future gains the credulous tradesman allowed himself to bo swindled to the extent of a thousand pounds.

Somo time before this Price had married a good and gentle woman wnose fortune ho soon squandered. She was the niece of a Mrs Pounteney, a cunning, unscrupulous creature, lit to be Price’s associate, or rather confidante, for he always worked single-handed. And now came a period when ho had need of such a confidante, for ho entered upon a desperate phase of his swindling career in which a false step meant capital punishment : 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 showp by his manner of undertaking this fatal business.

In Sirs Pounteney’s house he set up paper making and engraving plant. Knowing nothing- of .'either of these trades, ho 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 delect the larger v.

, ihen came the negotiating of these bank notes. At first Price unaertook the xdsky business himself, always in disguise. But the alarm of the Bank of England as these clever forgeries came pouring in produced cucn vigorous measures to detect the swindler that ho was compelled to alter his plans. Tlio 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 from engaging farther in such perilous work; but it merely drove nice io adopt other methods.

He advertised for a young man (o serve as attendant to an old gentleman, requesting applicants to address their replies to a certain coffee house. Close 'spen nightfall a coach drew up at the 'house or an ingenious young follow who had answdred his advertisement. The would-bc attendant, who hurried to tlio coach door, raw in the vehicle a decrepit old gentleman of about 70 years of ago buttoned up in a surtout, and wearing a black patch over one eye. A conversation ensued, and the yo.nng 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 nest evening at tho house of Mr Blank, as Price new stvled himself in' this character of guardian; and the two took a coach and drove to the various lottery offices, at which the young man p'arenas-

e.t tickets, banknotes being given him for the purpose. This went, on for -01110 time; hut the ■ts.rro was. of course, played cnee too 01;on-. The young man. to his horror and oisiress, ..ns apprehended on .suspicion of forgery, tie was inieircvoied, and desired to conduct .Bov.- Street olficir.ls to the residenc - of the old guardian, in the hope of trapping tiic lux. But Price had lied. During' tie- rounds His I’ountenoy had secretly accompanied t ho young man to the (liiicreat, letter.- offices, ready to give Price a, signal should anything go wrong, when he would at. once drive ;iv.::y io a. place of safety. This performance was repealed again and apta’Ti with iresh tools, and Price always managed to elude Ins pursuers, though he had many a narrow e-capo of being taken.

In a fresh disguise ho would frequent a coffee house near the Royal .Kxcban.ge. and while there would send a. lad to i he bank to cash a .til! note, lint his messenger had directions not to apply to the cashier with the ticket given him by Hie 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 l\v a, new messenger.

This ingenious : eh ewe was Price's ia.-t. One of the bank-notes paid over by him in one of thorns transactions was traced to him, and he was apprehended. In How .Street. Price carried things with a high hand, denied everything, and showered abuse upon the officials.

But as the day;; went by and evidence against hint accumulated, lie remised be; desperate strait. Ho sent- for his wife and oldest, son, and eoiuo.ssed his guiii, to their terror and aiimr.emont, for nil that, moment they had never dreamed that Price v. as anything but an honest business man. The solo of vbo son’s coot was opened and a paper inserted addressed to Mrs Pomueney directing her to destroy all evidences of tho bank-note ' manufacture.

But tie ugh. ibis was done, there was sufficient testimony in tho iv’.v.s of the police to destroy him. Ft‘ Png that ail was at an end. ho ciotonnined to anticipate his fate, and put a period to his life ■

During one of the interview;' with ids son. ho said, in a- low tone ‘•.I am wishful to write come _ papers which would incriminate mo should they fall into the hands of my gaolers. Ife no means of fastening my door to is.so me time to conceal (hem, so yon must smuggle in to mo a couple of gimlets, and 'a stout cord. I’ll .drive one into each door post, and secnro (he cord to each. This will prevent sudden interruption*:.” Tlio unsuspecting boy earned out his father’s wishes; and on the morning ef January il.i, 17SG, the, ;nvh .swindler v. as found hanging in his cell—dead.— G.P.M.