FIRST-CLASS THIEF.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 November 1919, Page 10

FIRST-CLASS THIEF.

. ' .' £3OOO RAILWAY LOOT. ■' A remarkable story of thefts by a Dane, Victor Halsden Simeson, 32, was told at the London Sessions. The prosecuting- counsel handed in 30 type-wnt'ten foolscap - sheets, .said to be ' tie" record of, property- stolen- by Simeson, who travelled all over the London and NorthWestern Railway with a first-class pass. . - Simeson , pleaded ,- guilty to three charge's of stealing jewellery, clothes, and furs, worth £804., 'Mr.'St. John Hutchinson,-prosecuting, said Simeson ciimo to this eotintrv when quite young, but, went back to, America. He returned to England, ,in.order, as he said, 1 to get a'commission .'in the British Army. He failed to do .so, and then got".into touch with people of. position and influence who knew his familv. Going to the London and North-West-ern Railway, with 'the strongest of recommendations, and known ."personally to some ; ,of ..the high officials, he was given a position as travelling superintendent, with.the idea that later on he w.ould receive a permanent appointment in that capacity. .... He cpnld.go into., any station or office, pter railway luggage vans, and travel Just'he hs/pleased.', Froni the earliest time of his appointment, he used, the op'poittmlties provided to steal • other people's v'alu3ble,s'.' ■-.■ ARRESTED IN EVENING DRESS. In the luggage vans he selected with the utmost care the 'best sitit-ftase, and either went off with it or rifled it of some of its contents, He showed a special preference -for Jhe.-t travelling cases of Army officers. The loot included everv variety of property of value, jewellery or every description, clothing, furs, 'and even books. One bore the title "Was He-'Guilty?" The goods recovered after bis"'arrest were worth £3OOO. The most serious feature of the thefts was that suspicion had been unpistlv .eastuipon some of the oldest and best' of the-company's servants', including the , guards in'the trains. Some of these employees ■ were actually placed under observation. When Simeson was arrested he was in evening dress, and was on his-way to a Victory ball. The clothes he was wearing were the property of a .Cambridge graduate, his sleeve-links belonging, to someone else, as did also the boots he had on, and cveu the perfumed dressing he had used on his hair. He had been acquainted with six Women employed as barmaids or in other capacities on the railway. One of these he got into trouble. He promised to marry her, but as he did not do so she attempted suicide by throwing herself into; the Serpentine. ' Some of the stolen goods -were given to the women referred to, and he had spent some money on gambling. At his lodgings were found,, quite handy for possible use, a fnllyloaded revolver and also a dagger. Only 23 out of >l2O stolen rings'""had been traced.. .Mr. Huntly Jenkins, defending, said the man's, health had been seriously affected py insomnia and drugs. * Simeson was sentenced .'to "IS months' ■imprisonment, certified for deportation, and ordered to.pay £SO towards the costs of tlie prosecution. '