A Detective's Ruse.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 230, 7 October 1901, Page 4

A Detective's Ruse.

HOW AN OLD CHIMINAL WAS ' TAKEN IN. A CLIIYEK A UHL ST. A I'.um'ki'l.'.kly clever arrest was made, says the Melbourne nge, by Detective MeMrttmiuny. who. by judicious working, succeeded in worming out of a skilful criminal a Complete disclosure of bis predatory plans, which wen of a somewhat ambitious character. Everything had : been arranged by this man for r big coup, to be brought oil' in a few day.-, and which. 1 hut for the timely intervention of the de--1 tor-live, would most likely nave been successfully accomplished. About hah past three pan. on Tuesday Deteeli\o dieMamumiy had occasion to visit- a hotel in Willis street in order to make an impure. While stepping out on the footpath by a side door he noticed a brisk looking elderly man passing whose lace .seemed familiar. The effort at recollection brought to the otfieer's mind the name of .lack Walker, forger and horse stealer, and the detective, who bad never seen the man personally, but identified him by photographs taken in Sydney, stepped forward with the remark. Hallo, Jack 1 How are you'. 1 ” The elderly gentleman stopped, looked keenly, and immediately held out his hand and shook that of MeManainny, being evidently under the impression that lie knew him. " I’m pretty well, thanks,” he rejoined ; 11 how is the world using you '! ” " Do you ever see Spencer now '! " said McMnntimny. (Spencer, by the way, is a notorious criminal, who was arrested along with Walker in lHthl. but who succeeded iu making liis escape from custody). "No,” said Walker, “I’ve not scon Spencer for a long time. Anyway, he was not reliable, as he was likely to get drunk just at the time when his brain should have been clearest. But you really surprise mo by recollecting me : you know 1 alter my appearance so often, I have a beard now. I suppose it's my walk you know; it always gives me away. I can’t assume a slouching gait : but really 1 feel as young as you are. Are you on your own ? ” Acs! Who’s with you'. I '' ‘■No one. I usually work alone now. Have you got- anything good in preparation '■ ” No. L just take everything as it comes, and I’m looking around '? ” After some further conversation the pair went for a walk iu the Flagstaff Gardens, where Mr Walker unsuspectingly took the detective into his confidence unreservedly.

••I've not been long in Melbourne," Haiti Walker, *• How long have you been over" •* I'm just back from Sydney,” said McManaumy—(ho had been over there on business). “When arc you going back yourself” •‘Oh, not till November; this is the best time for my class of work. It has been my custom to work alone, because I find that Ido things more thoroughly. I plan my operations very carefully, and don't leave much of a track. I.m going for a couple of thousand, and when I got it 1 intend to fPt- right away into tiie country on horseback ; it's the safest plan. .I’m thinking it all well out.” He then produced eight cancelled cheques signed " Foy and Gibson.” drawn on the Cnion Bank of Australia, Collingwood, of different amounts, “ These signatures will be-useful,” be remarked. •• Ah,” said the alert MclManamny, “ That looks like business ; do you think any of the talent know you '! ” ‘•No : some of the old ones would, but they arc all gone, seemingly, and I don't want to be seen. In a matter of this sort a person wants to find out what the bank at Collingwood will stand for an open cheque. In our business one must be careful not to draw more than about AbOO at the outside on an open cheque. I have one already drawn out for £7OO, but it will not be safe to try that immediately, as l want to distribute cheques to make £2OOO in one day. There is nothing like getting your money sweet over the counter: it saves all sorts of bother. I got away with a few hundreds j in Adelaide the other day without any trouble. I seldom come into town. I like to stay at h time m Collingwood and think matters out. Of course it is much more difficult to complete one's business nowadays : telephones interfere with one. It’s not like the old days, when everything was simple.” After some further conversation, they left the gardens and walked along Latrobo street, and then Walker developed another interesting scheme. “ There is one way we could do well in,” he said. “ You take a residence in a suburb, and give me your lOU for All). I will instruct a solicitor to summon you ; then you pay him. I will select a solicitor who deal in trust money and he is sure to pay me by cheque, and, of cou.ise, by getting his cheque we get his signature, and then we can go to work. Perhaps you may not know that I am the man who caused the banks to have their cheque forms printed on specially colored paper, so that if chemicals were used to erase the ink the color of the paper would also be affected. There is still one bank in I another State that still uses the old- I fashioned cheque forms, and we can attend to that later on.” By this time they had reached liussellstreet, and turned to go along it. MeMananmy ostensibly seeing Walker home and making final arrangements for meeting on Friday, and incidentally listening to other devices whereby the confiding public might be robbed. As they readied the door of the detective office MeMantunny placed his hand familiarly upon Walker's shoulder and confided to him the fact that he was Detective MeManamny, and arrested him on a charge of being a rogue and vagabond. In the coolest way imaginable Walker remarked : “ I'm very happy to meet , you. Mr MclManamny. I've known you by repute, but I now know that I have made a mistake. I’ve never met you personally before ; permit, me, however, to compliment you on your smartness. " Walker was lodged in the watch-house. - The following record shows that John Walker, alias -John Wallace, alias John \ Lawrence, alias .James Alien, has done a fair share towards painting the annals of Victorian crime in lurid colors : Beecbworth, 1870, horse-stealing, five years on the roads. Melbourne, 1878, horse-stealing, threecharge-, six years. Geelong. 1879, horse-stealing, four years, receiving one year. Sandhurst, 1879, horse-stealing, five years. Melbourne, 1885, forgery and uttering, two years. Melbourne, 1887, uttering, seven years. Collingwood. 1900, insulting behavior, one month. W.tgga, New South Wales, uttering, four years.