“SWAM FROM AFRICA”

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 92, 10 February 1947, Page 6

“SWAM FROM AFRICA”

CONFIDENCE TRICKSTER’S STORY SENTENCED TO PENAL SERVITUDE Cracksman turned confidence trickster, George Andrews, a 41-year-old native of South Africa, known as Frank Smith, alias Earl Williams, alias Australian Frank, went to penal servitude for four years, at the Old Bailey, under the keen gaze of several well-known “con” men in the public gallery. Stated by a detective-inspector to have had a number of convictions in Britain and abroad, “Australian Frank” was a fugitive from South African justice. He was found guilty of stealing £4500 from Jan Louis Van der Merwe, a South African farmer, leaving him in a penurious position, by two confidence tricks. A second man in the dock, Maurice Fineg'old, aged 45, a musician, found guilty of conspiracy to steal, went to prison for 18 months.

How “Australian Frank” reached Britain from South Africa is a mystery. He gave no clue when questioned.

“How did you get here?” he was asked.

“I swam,” he replied. “It’s a long way to swim from South Africa,” he was told. “-I’m a good swimmer,” was his retort.

Mr Van der Merwe, whom he swindled, left the court with £IOOO in notes found in “Australian Frank’s” possession. The judge had made a restitution order.