FIFTY YEARS OF FRAUD

Waikato Times, Volume 103, Issue 17326, 11 February 1928, Page 14 (Supplement)

FIFTY YEARS OF FRAUD

By sentencing & man who calls Wmsett James Montgomory, a bogus solicitor, aged 77, to 12 months’ hard labour at the Old Bailey yesterday, the Common Serjeant, Sir. Henry Dickens, K.C., has rid society for a time oX a leader of the gang of shareposhing pests who, in association with the notorious Jacob Factor, have for several years been defrauding people all over Great Britain. In the financial underworld of London Montgomery is known as “The Aristocrat." .Immaculately attired, he sat in the dock during the five days of his trial completely composed, and every few minutes removed his gold' rimmed pince-nez and combed his silver hair with the glasses.

When the jury returned a verdict of guilty against him on a charge of fraudulent conversion, he extended his pince-nez towards them and murmured “Asses!” Another man who was charged with him made a remark to him in the dock, and whispering “I prefer not to talk to you," Montgomery waved away the man—who was acquitted— with a gesture of haughty contempt. Montgomery first beoame known to •the police 50 years ago, \vhen lie called himself John Scaife. The authorities have never been able definitely to ascertain his real' name, but they know that he is a member of the distinguished Scottish family of Urahame and lias had a pubic school and university education. Under various names he has served eischt sentences of imprisonment, including two of seven years’ penal servitude, and on all occasions his appearance altered completely soon after lie had served the sentence. The. photographs of him at ccot--1 anti" Yard- show him sometimes clcansnaven, on oilier occasions with a wealth ftf grey side-whiskers and board, and ui other times with a ma Dnilicent silver moustache. Eogus Lawyer.

Throughout his 50 years of crime Montgomery:.has invariably posed Q .s a solicitor, and f,or this deception he has twice been convicted. Part of his schemes luuj always been to att tdi himself to a legal firm, and so cleverly lias he-used the connections I bus formed, for his .own benefit that in every case the principal ol tne firm has been struck off the roll when the enterprises engineered by Montgomery came to light. %<a some time early this century Montgomery was employed by a soli

“ARISTOCRACY” OF UNDERWORLD

JACOB FACTOR’S ASSOCIATE.

Will Swindle.

oitor named Robert Mason, and when Mason .was struck off, Montgomery began to use the name Mason, and as a member of what he styled the firm of Mason, Son, and Mason, of Great Tower Street, he was convicted several times.

Other legal firms’ names he has used are Robert Turnbull, F. Clark and Son, and Messrs Hodgkinson, but the first occasion on which he blossomed out in connection with, company share transfer work was 16 years ago, when from offices in Chancery Lane he issued letters and statements as secretary of the British Industrial and Investors’ Association.

Perhaps the most amazing swindle in which Montgomery has been concerned was one in connection with a will under which two brothers were to share £127,000 on the death of their grandmother. One brother lived in Italy and the other wished to raise several thousand pounds on Hie reversionary interest.

A money-lender who advanced money asked for a deed to the effect that if one of the brothers was struck out of the will the other would share tne large legacy with him. A conferedate was introduced and he posed as the hrothcr in Italy and signed the deed. An attempt was then made to induce money-lenders to part with a further £70,000, but it failed, and for the part lie played in the fraud .Montgomery served a term of penal servitude. It was stated by the police that Montgomery had refused to give formation regarding his activities since he last left prison in 1923. The files at Somerset House reveal, however, that during that period he has been controlling two companies, British Estates and Commerce, Ltd., and A. A. Lucas and Go., Ltd. The present condition ol' British Estates was referred to in court, and at io, Chancery Lane, E.C., a Daily Mail reporter found tdat the registered oulce ol' the company was described on a door as being within the premises of W. Drake and Co. At Somerset House the directors of the company are shown to be Monl-R-omerv Millicent Montgomery, and William Drake. In the London Gazette of September 23 last it was intimated that William Drake, who was a witness at the trial, of ao Cjian eery Lane, and Ilford, Essex, had been struck off the roll of solicitors.