“MAN OVERBOARD.”

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 326, 20 January 1932, Page 5

“MAN OVERBOARD.”

How a Cunning Trickster Works. STATEROOMS ROBBED. (Special to the “ Star.”) LONDON,' December 10. There is an adventurer, thought at the moment to be exploiting the wealthier classes in Europe, who has devised a new way of escaping from tight corners. He simply goes to sea—where many of his coups are executed —and “ falls overboard.” Port authorities all over Europe have been showing particular interest in the whereabouts of this professional “ falleroverboard,” who is believed to be either a Canadian or an American, and who is also a notorious thief and trickster. He is said to make a speciality of robbing staterooms in liners, and also of passing off travellers’ cheques, which he generally cashes with ships’ pursers. When things are becoming too hot for him the man jumps overboard as the liner approaches port, and swims ashore. According to a letter received by the Canadian Pacific agents at Havre from European superintendents of the Canadian Pacific Express Company in London, the cunning trickster recently was deported from Southampton. He was subsequently reported to have committed suicide by jumping overboard as a vessel neared New York. Since then, however, he has definitely been identified in Europe on several occasions, and all reports of persons falling overboard from liners are being closely investigated.