STRANGE CRIMINAL

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4479, 17 July 1930, Page 4

STRANGE CRIMINAL

♦ SAVED BY BUTTERFLIES

'flic Paris Court of Correctional Appeals lias had before it a very strange criminal (says the “Daily Telegraph'’). An elegantly-dressed old man with an ivory complexion appeared and made a moving appeal for leniency. He was Maurice Georges Gutmann, whose criminal career began in 1892, and luql the title of “The King of Swindlers” conferred upon him. There were so many convictions against hint Unit lie was sent, to the penal settlement of Guiana..

There lie became so desperate Unit he was imprisoned with the incorrLg'ihlcs. A visitor lo the settlement had pity on him, and intervened in his favour. Front that moment the conjv.iet began a new life. He came in contact with exporters of butterflies, and he was employed by them and earned £4OO a year. So great was the confidence liis employers had in him that they suggested he should represent them iu Europe. Gutmann was given six months’ leave, and visited England, Switzerland, and .France. •It was arranged that he should only pass through Paris, hut he remained in the city, and when his leave expired lie did not return to Guiana. He obtained employment witL a publicity agent, resumed bis swindling operations, and, was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment, lie has now appealed for a reduction of flu's sentence, and pleaded to lie sent back to Guiana to his friends and his butterflies. “The butterflies await me,” he cried. “Please let me go back by the first boat.”

The. Magistrates were moved by Hi is appeal, made to them in accents of sincerity, and were to consider his ease.