PLAUSIBLE CASEY

Hokitika Guardian, 2 October 1931, Page 6

PLAUSIBLE CASEY

COLLECTING “FOR THE POPE.”

AMERICANS TAKEN DOWN

PARIS, September 15

After escaping from custody in Sydney in 1922, James Casey entered upon a career which led to a sentence of six months’ imprisonment 011 a charge of defrauding three Americans by collecting subscriptions on the plea that they were for the Pope. 011 a further charge of defrauding an English business mail, named Boardmail, at Lugano last year of £20,000, Casev was remanded until November 9. * V

• Casey, who was well dressed, towered above his warders. With dignity he denied the charge of fraud and pleaded mistaken identity. The judge requested him to come near while he checked up the details of a written description, which included five false back teeth. The judge inspected Casey's mouth like a dentist and declared that the description fitted him.

Casey originally was a sheep-shearer. After his escape in 'Sydney he appeared in Europe in 1925 in the guise of an American banker, and frequented fashonable resorts. Previously he had told the magistrate that lie did not wish to he deprived of his bank deposits of £25,000 and was anxious that his dress clothes should be properly valeted.