MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 February 1924, Page 1

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION A BELGIAN “KOPENICK." LONDON, Feb. 5. Tile Berlin police have invited Scotland Yard’s co-operation in the tracking of Otto Stepliavc, a notorious Belgian swindler, who is known as “Kopenick the Second,” and who is posing as an interpreter at the American Embassy. He is suspected of duping several of the staff of the Allied 1‘ inancial Experts, and of relieving them of luggage and money. Scotland Yard states that Stepliavc, during the war posed as King Albert s attache, and he decorated the American General Allen with the Croix tie Guerre before a big parade. 1 hen he borrowed money from the General. He next appeared at Constantinople as a Belgian emissary. He lived sumptuously in ihe Sultan s Palace, and was allowed harem, and he brorowed heavily until he was unmasked hv a British Attache.

Stcphane then escaped to London, and there he dressed in the uniform ot the. Belgian Air Force. He visited aeroplane factories on ihe pretence of buying army machines. He was entertained lavishly, find was supplied with cash.

His highest llight of eifrontery was that of calling at Buckingham Palace to interview the Duke ~t Voile. When a detective arrested him. Slephane said —“I am only one big bind, hut 1 live well, and have a fine time.’

Stcphane after demobilisation, telephoned to the Government Printing Office at Brussels, and ordered several hundred photographs ol the King of the Belgians. He lived for some time h v selling them, before suspicions were aroused. He afterwards visited England as Major Deberry. After the aeroplane negotiations already mentioned, when armed with credentials and a uniform, he figured as Viscount Otto Deberry, when seeking the interview with the Duke of York. His arrest followed this incident, and led to his deportation to Belgium.