A Colonial "Long Firm."

Manawatu Herald, 27 April 1893, Page 2

A Colonial "Long Firm."

For some time past the police have been aware that the swindle known in London and other large cities of the Old World as " The Long Firm " dodge, was in full swing in this city, and the investigation of the affair was some days ago placed in the hands of Detective Campbell, with the result that yesterday, matters being ripe, informations were laid by him, and warrants obtained tor the arrest of J. W. Crabkee, a notorious exconviot, William Thompson, who is not known to the police, and George W, @oo&e, who is merely kaowa to

■ w___ — — — the authorities as a native of Tasmania. The charges against the aeciised are those ,pf atteniptiiig to 1 demiud a nuriiber of tradesmen in this city- The circumstances are as follows, so far as can be gathered -from various sources: -Some three months ago Thompson who represented himsell as a geifsoii With a Capital; presented hirdself to "several merchants and produce, merchants in this city and obtained credit for $oocls to cotisiderabie amounts, if . the information we obtained is correct, Thompson paid small sums in cash and drew bills at short date for the balanced; He' represented that he had secured the spacious premises in Molesworfch street which were at one time in the occupation of the late Mr W. Tinney, master painter. So far there waa nothing to cause the slightest suspicion in the minds of the shrewdest business men. The usual bank enquiries had been nlade, and everything pointed to a prosperous career for the firnl of " Thompson and Co<" But noW the remainder of the gang entered upon the scene. The shop in Moleswof fch street waa taken by Georgd W. Goode, and in his name the tfade wns carried on. The Moleswofth street emporium, however, was but the depot from which Thompson and his confederates drew their supplies. Thompson, having fixed up everything " ship-shape and Bristol fashion " at Thorndon, secured premises in his own name in Taranaki-strSetj and stocked them from the firm's main establishment at the other end of the city. At this particular juncture the head and decidedly the leading spirit of the firm came in, bdt from intense modesty, and possibly a desire not to come into close contact with his old acquaintance Detective Campbell, he kept out of sight. The individual referred to is John William Crabtree, who is an old and clever criminal although comparatively a young man. It would seem that the "firm," encouraged by their increasing business in Wellington, decided to start three up-country branches, which they did, one branch being at Featherston another at Grey town, and the third at Master ton. Crabtree ruled the roost at Greytown, whilst the managers — who are believed to be bona fide wages men, and entirely in the dark as to the operations of their principals at Greytown — unsuspectingly looked after the interests of the trinity. All went well tills the bills became mature, and then the bubble burst and Detective Camdbell got on trail. The culmination of the affair was the arrest of Crabtree at Greytown, whilst Goode was apprehended at the Hutt. Goode was brought before Mr Martin, R.M., in the Magistrate's Court to-day, and was remanded till the 2nd of May. Crabtree is expected in town in custody to night. Thompson is still wanted by the police. Crabtree has had an extraordinary career. Born in 1860, in Yorkshire, and a baker by trade, he came to this colony when quite young, and many years ago he received cumulative setences amounting to 18 years' penal servitude for horse stealing and burglary. He escaped from Mount Coolc Prison on the 30th January, 1887, but was recaptured by Detective Campbell three days afterwards on the Wadestown-road, dressed in a suit of clothes which he had stolen from a house in the neighbourhood. He broke into a number of residences in Thorndon and stole wearing apparel, jewellery, plate, and cutlery most of which was recovered, buried in the ground near Mrs Rhodes' house.-, Crabtree, when recaptured, was nearly starving, as he had been afraid to visit town to buy food. Once, however, he ventured into a second-hand dealer's shop next to the Albion Hotel, kept ■ by an old couple who are now dead. Crabtree was tried for breaking gaol and for several burglaries committed whilst he was temporarily at large, and received further sentences amounting to several years, in addition to the sentence he was already serving. Not very long ago, and when confined in the Auckland Gaol, he obtained his release, on the assumption that his health was failing and his reason tottering. — Post.