EGG TRICK IS EXPOSED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17830, 26 April 1926, Page 5

EGG TRICK IS EXPOSED.

AN EX-OFFICER’S CRIMES. “ SHELL-SHOCK ” PLEA FAILS. Shell-shock as the cause of a salesman committing twenty-six frauds was too much for the Recorder, in a recent case heard at the Old Bailey. "There comes a time,” he observed, in addressing a prisoner, "when this argument may be stretched to the break-ing-point. I am all lor helping cases where a man's mind lias been affected by the terrible experiences of the war. I do hot believe, however, yours is a genuine case of .shell-shock, but that you are a cunning imposter. After having several chances you entered on a perfect orgy of crime.” The man to whom these words were addressed was Douglas Osborne Wilkinson, aged thirty, and he pleaded guilty to four ingenious "egg" frauds. In addition he admitted twenty-two other cases in London and the south of England, lie had been in business with his brother in Kent as a poultry dealer, and this, no doubt, gave him his idea. After leaving his brother he called on grocers and pretended that he was still a poultry dealer. He pitched a tale about being unable to supply a regular customer owing to some misunderstanding, and asked if he could purchase two or three hundred eggs, so as not to disappoint the client. Giving the name of his customer, who would be well known to the grocer, accused invariably asked for the eggs to be sent. Then he would intercept the messenger, take the eggs to the customer—with whom he had previously arranged to sell them at a cheap price—receive cash in payment and depart to another district, leaving the grocer who had supplied the eggs to whistle for his money. Sometimes the messenger was shrewd enough to follow. Then Wilkinson wrote out an iom.. put in an envelope, and gave the boy sixpence to take it back to his employer. TRICKS IN THIRTEEN TOWNS. Wilkinson played this trick successfully in some thirteen towns. Altogether he netted £lO4. Occasionally he varied the scheme by giving a "dud” cheque in payment for the eggs before re-selling for cash. On January 22 he went to the house of Miss Butler, Dulwich, a lady who befriends ex-soldiers, saying he was Captain Sellers, of the Royal Fusiliers. He was given tea, and decamped with the chequebook. A few days later he got 600 eggs w’ith one of the cheques. Educated at a higher grade school, and a member of the International Schoolboys’ football team, Wilkinson obtained a good situation as a clerk. In August. 1914, he joined the Roybal Garrison Artillery, and the following December was given a commission in the 15th Royal Fusiliers (City of London) Regiment. He went to Cambridge University for training, and in 1915 sailed overseas. In 1916 he was invalided home, suffering from shellshock, and admitted to hospital. While on sick leave he became infatuated with an actress and dancer, whom he subsequently married. The marriage was against the wishes of his parents, and did not turn out happily. A CAREER OF CRIME. In 1916 Wilkinson was bound over at Dover for stealing a motor-bicycle, and cashiered from the Army r . He applied for re-enlistment as a cadet in the Guards, but when his character was investigated he was not accepted. He then got into the Army Pay Corps. In 1918 he was bound over at Marvlebone for larceny as a servant, and again in 1921 for stealing from a lodger. In 1923 he had four months’ imprisonment at Cheshunt for fraud, while in 1924 he had sentences of four months at North Shields for fraud, and three months at Warrington for stealing a watch from a fellow-lodger. The prisoner was now sentenced to three years’ penal servitude, the Recorder observing that if there was any truth in the suggestion that he was different from other men, he would receive. proper medical assistance in prison. Two experienced doctors, however. had stated that they saw no sign of abnormality about him.