A CLEVER SWINDLE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5291, 25 June 1928, Page 4

A CLEVER SWINDLE.

WELL-TOLD TALE OF WOE. MANY PEOPLE VICTIMISED. Leading citizens, shrewd business men, and shrewder money-lenders all fell victims, according to the Sydney police, of a clever swindler, who, acting the part of a defaulting bank clerk to perfection, robbed tsem of over £lo'oo in the last few months, without revea.ling his identity. He has been arrested. His method was ridicu’ously simple. He would go to his intended victim and tell a tale of woe. For years he had been in the bank as a clerk, he. would tearfully explain, and had never done a, dishonest act. But circumstances had forced him into taking some money, which he was unable to repay in time to avoid detection. Then he would ask for a loan, and in most cases, got it. The amounts ranged*up to £loo,’ a,nd to make the case look genuine he would give the name of a respected citizen who s could be called to indenify him. The men who were defrauded never knew his name, and the police were as much in the dark a they. But at last his scheme, went away. He called upon a big Sydney bookmaker, and asked for £.lOO after telling the us.ual story, interspersed with wcll.stiinulated sobs. But office was a man who recognised him, and the poliue were called. He got out the office before Detectives Garlick and .Geldart arrived, but they learned his identty, and went to his home at Croydon, placing him under arrest. He is said to have admitted, his frauds to them, and told them that •lie was a big gambler, and won as much as £l4'o'o in one day at the races, only to lose it the next time he plunged. A woman of title has complained that she. has been victimised by the man.