A SWINDLER OF MILLIONS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 278, 25 May 1917, Page 1 (Supplement)

A SWINDLER OF MILLIONS.

THE EXTRAORDINARY CAREER OF HENRI POCHETTE.

The recent arrest and subsequent imprisonment of Henri Rochette, tne notorious swindler of France, who was found fighting for Ins country as .i common poilu, recalls one of the most extraordinary stories of modern times.

Less than twenty years ago a youngster named Rochette was earning a paltry living as a water at a cheap hotel in the French provinces. In this , capacity ho did not meet with much success, for nis tips were not sufficient to keep him dressed decently. But sudednly the tables turned, for ; this jpoor JprovuHal waiter had inherited' £2OO. With his he went to Paris to achieve renown. HIS WONDERFUL PERSONALITY. Rochette was of striking appearance. He was erect like a young poplar, and as lithe. His eyes shone with a fierce intentness, and he had on open-lipped constant smile. Over a iwell-snapod mouth projected the sharp, nose, a trifle too much like a beak. Ho was not exactly a handsome young man, hut he Jjul -charm and magnetism, and an ingratiating mood and manner. Little did the simple country folk of Eticnne dream that the young peasant whom they nick-named "Foxy Rochette'' was to become a great leader of finance, a high adventurer in whose wake politicians and Ministers tottered and fell. The unknown waiter with the fox f;v?o invested his small fortune and bccaine a promoter. He knew the thrifty, money-saving French provincials. Moreover, "in his waiter's career, he had overheard the plannings and plottings of financiers) 'who fattened upon these hardworking, hard-saving poor. Was it not an easy way to make money? thought lie. Anyway ho could have a shot at it. Two or three years sped past and the name of tho humble waiter became a household word in the land of the Tricolour. WORTH £3,000,000. Tho whole country was investing in his companies; everywhere tho latest deals, of his Franco-Spanish Bank and his Credit Minier et Indiistr'cl Bank were being discussed, and the discussions were bringing his institutions the savings of thousands of small investors. Tho Bourse was dealing in the .stocks of liis innumerable mining and development companies. Fashionable and shrewd people wer trying their luck with the lottery bonds of his Credit Foncier Egyptien. He must be rich past dreams! Seldom, however, did one encounter tho great financier himself. Occasional! l one might sec him m the cafes; ot La' Rue Montmartro with thisor that favourite, but it was rare, for Rochette believed in working behind the scenes. No ono knew prec : sely tho wealth that ho had accumulated; probably between two and three million pounds. It seemed incredible that this youngster of barely thirty years of age could have amassed' such a fortune. But no man rises to great eminence of wealth or power without making enemies Ther must be victims, enemies, rivals. Henri Rochette had dealt with humanity like so much chaff. He had mt business throats without remorse and made implacable foes without a tremor. Rich and powerful as ho was, there were those, who wcr,c stronger. There wero those, too, who wore vindictive from past wrongs and defeats. And there wero the jealous. THE BOMBSHELL BURSTS! Henri Rochete had alien many persons into his pay. Thereby ho had won the suspicion and enmity of others. The i bubble was swelling, and in 1908 it I burst. j Rochette, the spectacular promoter ' and hanker, was arrested on a charge j of violating the laws concerning stocks ■> and bonds. He was tried, after sonic I delay convicted, and sentenced to serve i two vears for his crime. Rochette made ! an appeal and was allowed his freedom. He went back to his office and manipulations, and made money faster than ever before. The easygoing people had an uncanny faith in the fox. It was not until 1911 that his appea was decided and Rochette was ordered another trial. I Again tho proceedings were delayed and then anoher bombshell hurst. Mme. Caillaux shot M. Calmette, editor of 'Lo Figaro,' \Vho hnd charged Mme. Caillaux's husband with protecting Rochette from imprisonment for j venal reasons. Everyone remembers tho -tory ot that tragi* trial which ended in the acquittal of Mme. Caillaux. A FUGITIVE FROM JUSTICE. But the chief rx-"r and oonsp : rator. Henri Roclietto, had fled long s.if-e. Itwas reported ho was in Mexico, and arrangements were made with FranscisI (o Madero, then in power, for h-j exj tradition. Rochette heard of the plan I and fled over the roots. I The waiter who hao liecome one ot 1 tho greatest financier-, and nroh-swin-dlers*of Franc*, the man whose total fraudulent operations aggregated 150 000,000 francs (£6,000.000), be- ,,,,.„. a world wanderer. He was reported in Ecuador, in Rem. m Brazil, where once the brandies ol his. Ranks j |,ad done a profitable bus.ne-s. Men .•based him in all parts v. f tl.c world j hoping for the. great reward that nnght ! be paid for his return to I'ranee. | Seme four months ago i French infantry were returning to t I lilUts from the trenches, wi-iu> awl ! loot-ore. , . : A smart young officer parsed »»> n ophite direction. As he■ came oppo- \ " tho soldiers fluted. Suddenly the ! olicer reigned b's horse to Ins haunvhe" and tfu-an, off. H, r,,. over to a j ,„ ||lior jf, the last rank and held ou. In* i h °"i,,.-hct«o'" -ad the officer in n <;urI i( , ls voice '•Mull eher ll< -hotte j Th.o soldier b-wed li- Lend w.tli .i j fuiz/.i'-il sinil". | ' "It is I." hesa'd ! Tiu< mailer from the province ha ,„>. -] the call <f hi-. <■ niit-ryiiioii and ' " V IV. 1,,,-ome M Blank "' »■'»« i iv nrnm lo i" '»" "• ~ , j l-nnc-woulllo.- | lU„,,t he bad iK'cn M. llocheUo ol ' tta l.>'),ooo.Oo'J francs.