BOGUS DETECTIVES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 82, 1 September 1914, Page 4

BOGUS DETECTIVES.

ROGUES WHO LIVE ON "HUSH-

MONEY."

TYPES OF BRITISH SWINDLERS.

„„,. London, July 15. This case is not one of considerable importance. . . . It thas been known for a long time that there is a class of men who successfully extoTt money from bookmakers by pretending to be m the police force."

The words are those of counsel representing the Commissioner of IBolice in a recent case in which a bpgug detective was accused of blackmailing a bookmaker—a case which called attention to a particularly moan kind of fraud. For not only do these bogus detectives extort money from bookmakers and other people, but they succeed—fortunately only in a small degree—in smirching the reputation of the police and detective forces.

In the particular case mentioned, a bogus detective introduced himself to a bookmaker in a West End restaurant as a Scotland Yard man and proceeded to arrest him for street betting and take 3iim to the nearest police station. On the way, however, he suggested to the bookmaker that the. matter should be "squared." and ultimately it was arranged that the prisoner should meet his "captor" and bring with him £5. The bookmaker, however, had his suspicions, with the result that the bogus detective was duly arrested. It is, of course," somewhat difficult to tell whether a man in ordinary* clothes who poses as a detective, is genuine ol not; and, as they are naturally anxious to keep out of the hands of the police, they are often victimised by men who watch their movements and seize an opportunity when the bookmaker is doing a little questionable business to extort money by threatening arrest and exposure.

The same, game is often carried on in the small night clubs. However strict and careful a proprietor might be, there are sure to be occasions when people other than members of the club are served with drinks. This is an offence against the law, and it is not a difficult matter for the bogus detective, who keeps a sharp eye on these night clubs, to extort money from the proprietor by threatening to report to the authorities the fact that lie has eold drinks to non-members.

The proprietor of one of the clubs off Oxford street informed the writer quite recently that last year he paid nearly £•130 in "hush money" to a man who Tegularly attended the club and represented lliimself as a detective in such circumstances. And it was not until he had paid this sum, and the bogus detective had been coming to the club for nearly nine months, that he discovered that Hie was not connected witli the police. Even more despicable is the manner in which these men posing as detectives prey upon women and girls whose mode of lige. is to be pitied rather than Warned. It is quite easy for these, rogues to frighten their victims into giving them money hy threatening arrest, and the police find much difficulty in tracking such bogus detectives down, owing to the reluctance of the women to come forward to give evidence. A few months ago, however, one. was smartly dealt with at the London police court, and the magistrate, sentencing him to three months' hard labor, expressed his regret that he could not make the sentence four times as heavy, tt is safe to affirm, however, that this particular '''gentleman" will not try the bogus detective game again with success, for the police mean to keep a verv vigilant eye upon him.

Wives should nl«o he warned ag-ains-t the man who calls during the absence of the husband, and. telling a plausible tale of 'how the latter had 'been caught stealing something from a shop or warehouse, asks for money to pay for the goods in order that the man shall not be taken prisoner. This trick has become, rather common of late. The bogus detective, of course, learns in the first place where Ihis victim is employed, and as much about liim as possible, and this knowledge helps him to successfully carry out ihis scheme to extort money from tin- wife, who naturally, is willing to part with anything to save her husband from the police.