BOGUS BANK STORY

Hokitika Guardian, 4 January 1930, Page 2

BOGUS BANK STORY

TRICKED OF £34,500. LONDON, Nov. 21. Charles Grant Lawson, aged 58, described as a millinery manufacturer, again appeared at Westminister Police Court yesterday charged with stealing £34,500 by means of a trick from Mr Thomas McWliinnie, a visitor from Jamaica. Lawson is alleged to have had two associates, who are not in custody. Mr H. D. Roome prosecuted and Mr Harry Myers defended. Mr Roome, said that Mr McWliinnie, a. banana planter, was in Bondstreet, W., on October 15, waiting for his wife, who was in a shop. A man went up to him and asked to be directed to Sackville-street. He introduced himself as John MacDonald and said he was an Australian. They became friendly, and he met Mr McWliin nie and his wife at the Langham Hotel. Another man came in. MacDonald said, “I know that man. I met him in Montreal. He has. done a, big deal on the Stock Exchange. His name is Miller.”

MacDonald went and spoke to him, and shortly after Miller joined the party. MacDonald said to Miller, “Will you give mo a tip on the Stock Exchange so that I can win a ‘fiver’ to pay for a dinner?” Miller said in a haughty manner, “I do not deal in ‘fivers’, but-in larger* sums.”

“WE HAVE MADE £5,000.” The same day they all met at : the Langham Hotel and had tea. Miller said to MacDonald, “You know I cannot trade in ‘fivers’. I trade for a very large concern and a little myself. My name must not be used on the Stock Exchange. I .do .not want my firm to to know I am dealing on my own.” On October 29. the three men and Mrs McWhinnie lunched together. Miller opened a handbag and said, “I want to do a deal for £SOOO. Here is my part of it.” MacDonald, went off with the bag and'returned saying that he had made the deal. Miller went out and when lie returned said, “We have made £sooo 100 per cent, We will meet to-morrow and MacDonald will qollect the money and we will divide it.” So Mr McWhinnie liad the impression that he was partner in a profit of £SOOO. On the following day the three men met again. Miller said, “I want to deal in £20,000 cash and £75,000 credit.” He said to MacDonald: “Follow my. instruction closely. Give £lO, 00© cash and £75,000 credit to the bank at the Stock Exchange.” .

BELIEVED IN THE BANK. * s Mr McWhinnie, continued Mr Roome, knew nothing about English commercial procedure and believe! there was a bank at the Stock Exchange and that Miller had an account there, MacDonald went away saying that he wos going to the Stock Exchange Bank. When he returind he said that some query had been raised about credit note. About a quareer of an hour later Lawson, said Mr Roome, appeared in the hotel and introduced himself as the assistant manager of the Stock Exchange bank. He had a bag with him. He said to Miller, “Is is very simple. All that the manager requires you to do is to endorse this cheque. I have £85,000 in this bag to give you.” Miller said, “I cannot take it if you want me to sign the cheque.” Lawson then walked out with the bag which Mr McWhinnie believed had £85,000 in it. * Miller then said “We must arrange credit at a bank for myself. I will cable Los Angeles and get my attorney to raise £75,000.” Up to that point, Mr Roome continued, Mr McWhinnie had not been asked for a penny, but on November 3 Miller met MacDonald and Mr McWhinnine and said that there had been a hitch. He produced a cable purporting.to come from his wife at Los Angeles, stating that Miller’s attorney had gone to Peru and his securities were not available. He added that his wife had £B,OOO and MacDonald said he had a credit note for £3,000 and £IO,OOO in Australia.

“I CAN RAISE £35,000. Miller then turned to Mr McWhinnie and said, “How much can you raise?” Mr McWhinnie replied, ‘‘l think I can raise £35,000. t V Miller said that his (Miller’s) name must not be mentioned, and told Mr McWhinnie that if his hank manager wanted to know why he wanted the money he must give no clue. Mr McWhinnie went to the Bank of Nova Scotia. Cables were put through to Jamaica, and after two days £35,000 was placed to his credit at the bank. On November 7 Miller suggested that the credit should be transferred from the Bank of Nova Scotia to the Midland Bank, Re'gent~street, W. £35,000 IN CASH. Mr McWhinnie agreed, and at Miller’s further suggestion cashed the draft for £35,000 into 350 £IOO bank notes. Mr McWhinnie asked Miller why he wanted the money in that form and Miller said that all trading with the Stock Exchange was done in £IOO notes. Mr Roome said that then followed a subtle part of this successful confidence trick, and Miller actually pretended to Mr McWhinnie that they had got rather more money than they wanted. He said to MacDonald, “You have £I3OOO, and MoWhinne has '£35,000, Why that is £SOO too much. Open your parcel, McWhinnie, and take out £500.” i

Mr McWhinnie did so, and thus Miller satisfied himself that the money was there.

The whole of the £34,500 was taken away by MacDonald, to whom Miller said. “Take the money to Mr Burbridge,” who was supposed to be manager of the Stock Exchange Bank. As MacDonald was leaving te ioom Mr McWhinnie said. “I am going with him.” Miller pulled him back by the shoulder, and said, “Don’t worry, old chap. He has my money as well.”

“LOST ALL OUR MONEY.”

MacDonald returned with a cheque, which he asked Mr McWhinnie to endorse, and Mr McWhinnie did so. MacDonald went away again, and when he returned said, “ 1 have traded the whole for American Can.” Miller went away to seee if the deal had gone through. When he returned lie said to MacDonald, “You have made a worng deal. Instead of selling American Can you have bought them. We have lost all our money.”

Mr McWhinnie nearly fainted. Miller told him to cheer up and catch the night train for Amsterdam, and added that if he (Miller) were not on the train Mr McWhinnie was to go to a. certain hotel in Amsterdam, where Miller would meet him the following day.

AMSTERDAM AND PARIS

Mr McWhinnie went to Amsterdam where he received a cable. Then he went to Pnris, where he received another cable. Then he became suspicious and returned to London on November 9.

■ -“There wos no MacDonald and no Miller,” said Mr Roome. “These men had by this device gained three days, perhaps, to get out of the country. Neither of them, has so far been found.”

Mr McWhinnie, in evidence, said: “I was quite convinced that when Lawson said lie had £85,000 of Miller’s money in his pocket he was speaking the truth.”

Mr Myers, applying for bail for Lawson, said tlint the defence would be a complete and. absolute alibi.

Lawson was remand in custody until next Wednesday.