A Bogus Vanderbilt.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 4 December 1915, Page 3

A Bogus Vanderbilt.

STORI' OK £0,250,0(A) COMMISSION. JJelore Judge Atherley Jones, K.C., at the Contra] Criminal Court on Friday, I'rederick Wasiiington Vanderuiit, (i(i, agent, was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment . for obtaining several small sulfas of money oy false pretences I He pleaded "Guilty, Mr Cecil Wliiteley, counsel for the prosecution, said that at the end of last year the prisoner met Mr. Frederick i'nomas (Jleai ; an insurance agent, and told him he was.a,member ol the Vandorbilt family. He said he was authorized to raise £00,000 as incidantal expenses for a British American club, which was to be erected on the site ot St. George's Hospital, and that the directors of the club were the Duke ol Westminster, Lord Lonsdale, and Mr Justice Darling. (Laughter.) all the members of the Automobile Club lie.said (though ifc was not true) had' subscribed 20 guineas eacn, and a numbers of Americans had also foundl money for it. He added that he iiacl been promised a commission ol'. 0} millions sterling, and was therefore able to pay £20 to each person subscribing £1. (Amuse! said the prisoner was not the son ol any member ol the Vi.nderbilt tamily, and oil another occasion when lie was before the Court it was stated that tho Vanderbili family had noverlieardi of him. It was stated by the police that tlie prisoner first came undier their not ; ce in. 1897. when lie carried on a moneylending business, which proved a swindle. He then conducted a matrimonial agency. In 1904 lie was sentenced to six months' imprisonment for obtaining money by false pretences, and in 1911 to three years' penal servitude lor a similar offence in connection with the manufacture of emeralds. He tried to obtain £1,000 from a widow at Highbury, with whom lie became acquaint-