"CONFIDENCE" GANG.

Shannon News, 26 February 1924, Page 4

"CONFIDENCE" GANG.

LEADING SPIRITS CAUGHT. PREYED UPON TOURISTS. . CARDS FOR HIGH STAKES. A smashing blow has been struck at London's confidence trick men by the arrest and conviction of two of the most expert of the fraternity-Matthew Biggar, alias "Peg Top Smith," and Daniel or "Robby." Delaney. The "arrests were due to brilliant detective work on the part of Inspector Leach, of the.C.'l.D. and were the fruit of special investigations that had been in hand for many months past. It is beleived that Biggar and Delaney were two of the leading spirits in a notorious gang of tricksters. The real chief is the elusive "Patsy," who has fleeced innumerable American visiters to London this season. They are also said to, have been associated with Warren ( who is in prison in Paris following his arrest for a series of remarkable frauds.

Biggar, who is a one-legged Army pensioner, has had an amazing career, as was revealed when he was sentenced at Marlborough Street to. two consecutive terms of five month's imprisonment for conspiracy to obtain money by false pretences from Major W. W. Roche, of the Conuaught Hangers, in a game called "Anzac poker" in 1921. Biggar was charged in January of that year witli two other men but disappeared while on bail. "A PROFESSIONAL CROOK:"

Biggar was barn in 1881 at Victoria, Austrailia, and soon came to the notice of the police. , He had his first encounter with the English police in 1914, wlien he was charged in London with loitering in reference to a confidencetrick, and discharged on condition that he left the country. He did so, but returned a few months later. He left again after an attempt at the confidence trick in a West End hotel, but the fallowing year he turned up in London and said that he had come from China to join the Royal Air Force. Interviewed by Scotland Yard as to his made of life he candidly admitted that he was a professional crook, and was known all over the world. His reason for wanting to join the Air Force was that he wo.uld be able to enter social circles where he could play cards. He was not allowed to join the Air Force, but went into the Army and lost a leg while on active service. , There are records of innumerable cardsharping offences against Biggar since 1920. He played cards for high stakes, and more than once won £I,OOO at a sitting. __ WAR SERVICE CONSIDERED. At Marlborough Street his counsel Mr. Keens said that Biggar's troubles were due to his association with bad company, and in passing sentence Mr. Mead, the Magistrate, said that he took Biggars' war service into account

"Nobby" Delaney's crimes cover a wide range. Convictions for cardsharping, the confidence trick, assault and larceny, and for being an "incorrigible rogue" have been recorded against him in all parts of the world. The French police expelled him from Nice, and a Brussels court sentenced him in his absence to five year's imprisonment. Delaney, who is an Irishman, aged 52, went to Australia as a boy, but was first convicted in South Africa in 190.4, and served two years for theft. -The charge brought against him at the old Bailey was of being concerned with another man not in custody in obtaining £4OO from a Phiippine doc. ter, Florentine O. Chioco, by means of the "distribution of fortune" trick. THE DROPPED GLOVE. Dr.Chioco was walking along Great Tower Street with-a man named Williams, who had offered to show him round London, when Delaney, who was ahead, droped his glove, Williams picked it lip and returned it to Delaney, and the three got into conversation

Delaney- showed the others an evening paper which stated that a Terence Hogankad left a fortune of £400,000 Delaney said he was the nephew of Hogan, and that he had to distribute £40,000 to the poor. Another £IO,OOO had to go to the Pope. He asked Williams and Dr. Chioco if they would distribute £I,OOO each to the poor for him, but first of all he wanted them to prove that they were trustworthy men.

Williams offered -to draw £I6OO in cash from his bank, and Dr. Chioco cashed a letter of credit for £4OO.

The three men then went to a restaurant, where Dr. Chioco was persuaded to give Delaney his £4OO. Delaney handed over the cashbox which he said contained £2,000 for Dr. Chioco to look after, and-, in company with Williams, left the restaurant. Opening the cashbox Dr. Chioco found it to be empty.

Delaney was sentenced to three years' penal servitude.