BIG FRAUDS IN URUGUAY.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1891, 28 October 1913, Page 5

BIG FRAUDS IN URUGUAY.

EX-MINISTER INVOLVED. There has just been brought to light (says the London "Times" Monte Video correspondent) a most remarkable series of frauds, in many respects resembling those of the notorious Mme. 'Humbert. Tlio amount involved is not short of a million and a half dollars—say £350,000 —and one of the first results has bec-n the downfall of a Cabinet Minister. The principal figure in tie affair has been Miss Irma Avengo, a lady, 32 years of age, of great personal attractions and gifts, related to the best families in Monto Video, and a prominent figure in tho best society. Her father is Deputy and ex-Senator, and she was niece by marriage of Dr. Romeu, Minister (now ex-Minister) of Foreign Affairs. In the last year or two this lady had developed a strong taste for gambling, playing heavily at the roulette table and- on the racecourse, owning raeohorses, and speculating wildly in real estate, and on the Stock Exchange, besides maintaining an independent establishment on an extravagant scale. Hor first basis for these adventures was money borrowed from her bosom friend, a Miss Rubio, a wealthy lady some years older than horself. Under pretext of being able to achieve enormous profits, and bv a series of cunning manoeuvres in which one creditor was played off against another, she borrowed huge sums right 1 and left, compromising the entire fortunes of her friend. Miss Rubio, and her uncle, Dr. Romeu, implicating dozens of others, relations or acquaintances,'and even succeeding in obtaining /largo credits from all the banks—except tlio English banks. Bills and acceptances drawn by her and hacked by Miss Rubio, Dr. Romeu, and others ' were everywhere, and whoa there was ! any difficulty in obtaining the genuine ■ signatures they were forged, and forged 1 so skilfully that no one, not even the • banks, Buspeoted them. Then camo ' the crash. ' One night Miss Avengo sl'pped away quietly to Buenos Ayres, leaving notes behind her addressed to Dr. Romou. Accounts were collated. Miss Rubio found that she was involved for about £100,000, representing her entile fortune; Dr. Romeu was responsible for a similar sum, meaning bankruptcy ; and the banks and various other pc. sons held Miss Avengo's papor to as 1 much more, to say nothing of numerous minor debts to tradesmen. j As both fraud and forgery were conctrned, a. warrant was issued i for Miss 1 Avengo's arrest. For several days she [ successfully evaded its execution; when she had reason to beiieye the polieo wcro I close upon her heels, she made hor way ! to a lonely field in the remote suburbs ' of Buenos Ayres, and there bleiv hor. ) brains out at midnight, Tho tragedy so impressed the sentimental people of ' the River Plate that she was promptly ! oenverted into a popular heroine. Dr. • Romeu presented his formal resignation • to President Bfttlle, but it was not 'ac- ! copied. Days went oil, and further revelations took an ugly turn for him. lie outcry for his resignation, became so strong that it even provoked a debate in the Chainbor of Deputies, as a result of which he had na alternative but to repeat his resignation, which was at , once accepted. The Avengo affair is i now before the Courts, .which have to ■ unravel some extraordinary compliea- ■ tions. Tho number of persons who have ■ been victimised to a greater or lesser extent is almost incredible. Tho Bank ' of the Republic, of which Dr. Romeu is ' an es-tlireclor, is involved for fully • £30 ' 000 ' "