VAST FRAUD

Hokitika Guardian, 5 January 1928, Page 1

VAST FRAUD

A MYSTERIOUS “MR X.” LONDON, Nov. 25. A year or two ago a lot of thousand franc notes were forged in Hungary with the object of placing some Archduke on the throne. A Chief of Police ami some people of rank went to prison over the affair. The latest story of crime is also concerned with Central Europe and Paris, and it is alleged that the profits amount to £10,000,000.

Ihe method adopted by ten alleged conspirators who have been arrested was to smuggle pre-war bonds out of their country of origin. Dealings in these l bonds within the country of issue* are upon a paper currency basis, hut elsewhere they arc negotiated on a gold basis. The allegation is that the documents were fraudulently endorsed in Paris with the stamps of French and English hanks and that they were thus dealt with in a gold currency, making them worth much more than the paper money originally paid for them. The tenth prisoner has been called

“I.MrX.,” for this is the entry that lias been put against him in the records of tiie Santo Prison. The ordinary officials at the Santo Prison do not know “the identity of “Mr X.,” though they have orders to treat him as a person of mark. The detective department says it will make his name known on Tuesday. Meanwhile it Is

whispered that he is a high nfficia closely ii*. touch with a former Cabinet Minister. The mysterious nun was taken secretly to the Surete Genornlo (the French Scotland Yard) last Friday afternoon and closely questioned. He left there after dark escorted by two detectives. All that onlookers could see was that he was a short thick-sot man. apparently about -10. and that he was dressed in a smart light grey lounge suit, lie hid his face behind his felt hat as he stepped into a waiting motor-car in which he was driven to the Santo Prison, where ho passed Ihe night guarded by two detectives. A PRIVILEGED PRISONER. No sooner was his cell allotted lo him than another prisoner was instructed in clean it out. bring fresh hod-linen, and carefully make the unknown prisoner’s lad. A prisoner ordinarily has to do these things himself.

Instead of being served with the usual prison fare two warders went out at dinner-time to fetch a specially ordered meal from a neighbouring restaurant. This was served with half a bottle of wine, coffee, and liqueurs. Tt appears that the arrest was made only after a long consultation between the heads of the detective department and the Magistrates in charge' of the investigation of the ease.