BORANOFF THE BOGUS.

NZ Truth, Issue 243, 19 February 1910, Page 4

BORANOFF THE BOGUS.

The conviction at Palmerston North on Tuesday last of the individual styling himself Leo Arthur, Coplan Boranoff on a charge oi indecent assault closes the New Zealand career ot that arch impostor: So frequently has this criminal figured m these columns that "Truth" is really averse to giving any further space to his -doings were it not that the case affords such a striding illustration of how the daily press of Wellington lends its leg to be ■ pulled by any "smartie" who .comes to Wellington from distant parts. When this little Yiddishes landed m New Zealand, having worked his passage out from the Old Dart as a fireman, he circulated the report that he was a. real live Russian refugee, who had escaped from the Salt Mines at Irkutsk {where, it was subsequently and satisfactorily proved by "Truth," there were no salt mines). This was enough for Wellington's daily press, and the "New Zealand Times" lost no time m interviewing and Rooming the "exile, 1 publishing Ms photograph, reporttiig Ms lectures, accepting his advertisements and spreading the giad tidings generally that m free and enlightened New Zealand a much-virosecu-ted citizen of the Czar's dominions had found a haven of safety. The scoundrel was accepted at his own valuation and foisted or. an unsuspecting public as a hero by Wellington's daily press. The trath, however, gradually leaked out. BoranoS came to grief m Wellington^ over a Valueless cheque transaction, &nd "Truth,", placing reliance on the statements of some reputable Russian residents m Wellington, challenged •Boranoff's" claim to be - a Russian refugee and' escapee from Russian justice, while Boranoff's "degrees," on his own showing, together with "Truth's" knowledge of Russian universities aud degrees, were proclaimed bogus. We proved Boranoff a' Jiar, and even hazarded the opinion that he was probably known to the London police. BoranofC as we soon began to know him, was nothing more than a drunken waster and take-down. He was no sooner out of gaol m Wellington tiian he over-reached himself m Levin, where he defrauded a Maori. Tn the meantime the detective department had communicated with Scotland Yard, and it was ascertained that Boranoff was no other than one. Albert Bernstein, who possessed a criminal record and whose crimes were of the house-breaking and fraud variety. Consequently,. Boranoff had no idea on Tuesday last, when he was found guilty of indecent assault, that his oldworld past would &c exposed m a New Zealand court of justice. For his crime of indecent assault, "Boranoff," or Bernstein, as we must now call him ; received a sentence of three years' imprisonment, his Honor Mr Justice Chapman remarking that his previous record hail not much to do with the present case. There "Truth" would be content to dra-w the curtain over the red Russian rascal, were it not that our attention has teen drawn to an editorial., comment m the '•N.Z. Times" of Wednesday last, wherein the "Times" lashes furiously at "An Undesirable Immigrant," and wants to know whether Boranoft cannot be deported. The red one's former barracker goes on to remark • "There can be no possible excuse for allowing individuals of the Boranoff type to stay amonpst us. He is a noxious weed of the worst kind." Was there ever such an impudent newspaper bluff .perpetrated' before ? "Truth." and not the "Times," would fee justified m making such a remark, hecause ''Truth" exposed Boranoff 1 whereas the "Times" boomed him and made him temporarily famous. This is only another sample of the journalism that has brought the 'New s*ealand press into disrepute.