TREASURE SHIP

Hokitika Guardian, 13 September 1929, Page 7

TREASURE SHIP

COLOSSAL CONFIDENCE TRICK ALLEGED. LONDON, July 23. A story of a treasure ship that never arrived in port was told at the Old Bailey yesterday. Edward Emile Joclien, 46, contractor, an American citizen, was indicated before Judge Gregory for obtaining from Mr. Marie Auguste. Jacques Peneillier, a bullion merchant, of Gray’s Inn-road, W.C., a cheque for £l,O(X> by false - pretences and for stealing the cheque. Mr H. D.' lloome, for the prosecution, said that Joehen’s conduct amounted to a colossal confidence trick. Jochen was an adventurer who came to England from New York last April to try to swindle a bullion broker by telling a fairy tale about an entirely fabulous bullion ship which was supposed to be floating about on the sea and containing a vast quantity of treasure.

Jochen he said, took a suite of rooms at the Hotel Metropole, Northumber-land-avenue, and obtained an introduction to a Mr Doyle, who had influence in London among bullion merchants. £5,003,000 CARGO. He told Mr Doyle there was a ship on me North Sea within easy steam of London which carried the staggering quantity of 50,01,0,000 ounces of silver. It was valued at £5,000,000 and represented . two large trainloads. Jochen declined to mention the name of the ship or say where she was. He said the silver was amassed in Mexico and was the property of the heirs ofthe late President Obregon. Jochen declared that lie had full power to sell the siver.

A contract was entered into and Mr Penelher gave Jochen a cheque for £l,OlO. It was alleged that Jochen afterwards went to Paris and sold the silver over again to another merchant and obtained a deposit of £2,500.

When he returned to London Mr Pencilier pressed for the delivery of the silver, and Joclien produced two pieces which he said were specimens.

A warrant was applied for and Jochen was arrested.

Mr Robert Doyle, company secretary, said that lie iniroduced Johcen to two bullion brokers, one iii London and the other in Paris. Mr Peiiellier said that Joclien told him that the cargo of silver was at the bottom of the ship and was covered over with a dummy cargo of sulphur. He said the ship had been afloat for 18 months, but he would not say where it was or mention its name.

He firmly believed that the silver existed and lie gave Jochen a cheque for £I,GOO. He thouglit the silver was within a few days steam from London. One clay Joclien said that he had had luncheon with the skipper of the ship at Bournemouth, and that the vessel was .then near Southampton. Mr Peneiller said when he asked to be allowed to see it, Jolien told him' he had sent it out to sea again.

He said that Joclien, when asked to explain,why he did not divulge the name of the ship, said that if he did his captain would “get five years.” The hearing was adjourned.