FRAUD "SLEUTH"

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19127, 23 September 1936, Page 12

FRAUD "SLEUTH"

TRACKED LONDON CROOKS EXAMINER OF, COMPANIES LONDON, Aug. 1. A sparely built man, with grey hair and shrewd, twinkling eyes, walked down Carey street yesterday for the last time. Few recognised him, yet for -15 years he Jias been as much feared by fraudulent company promoters as Scotland Yard itself. He was Mr. Ernest Leal, senior examiner oi' the Companies Winding-up Department of the Board of Trade. His name has been associated with nearly every big company scandal of recent years. fie has sent SO many men In prison that he cannot remember the number.

On his investigations has rested the Public Prosecutor's case. He has never had a failure. Now he is to retire.

ITc related yesterday something of his work. He said: "Much of it is secret and I cannot discuss it.

"There were painful aspects of my investigations. Often it has been necessary' for me to send a man to prison whom I respected. He had committed fraud to save his wife or family, or to save an old, honoured business. "Some of the most painful moments of my career have been Avhen I have had to go into the witness box at the Old Bailey and give evidence that meant a sentence of live or 10 years for such a man. "NOT ALL CROOKS." "Every company promoter who commits fraud is not necessarily a crook. Some of them are respected churchgoers, on the committees of hospitals, and interested in public welfare. Their first fraud is made in desperation. Then a. second fraud is necessaiy to cover the first. And before those men know whore they are, they are committing fraud on a huge scale. '' The day comes when there is made a compulsory A\inding-up order. The papers come to me. "I have a sure instinct for fraud. I cannot explain it. But often a ease that to everybody else looks plain sailing, smells of fraud to me.