Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-15
swrNDLER WITH a RECORD.

swINDLER WITH a RECORD.
HIS Extraordinary Career OF Crime
on TWO Continents.
New York Trbunel
The history OF Harry Benson alias
Charles 3. Bourton, the swindler who
got SD, 600 from Mexicans in 1886 by
pretending TO be Mr.. Abbey's agent for
the sal Of seats for PATHS concerts, was
told at length by Inspector Byrnes at ro-
lice headquarters yesterday. Benson,
who has gone by many false names and
is declared to be most adrOit scOundrel,
WAS locked up in cell under the Detsc-
tive Bureau, and he consequently could
not hear all the good and bad things that
were said about him. He is forty-one
years Of age, of small stature and dark
complexion, and would be a good-lookmg
man il he had not tried to burn himself
to death III an English prison some years
ago.
According to the police history he be-
longed % a good English family ond had
frst-cass education as journalist be-
tore he became known as rogue. His
ability to speak five languages-English,
French, German, Italian, and Spanish
helped him in his career both rs an
honest journalist and as & sWindler. He
was editor of Paris newspaper during
the Franco Prusslan war. During the
siege of Paris lie got through the lines
with the help OF United States Minister
Washburne, and he lived at Lyons,
France, for a time after the close Of the
war
Before he had left England he had
been cast of by lis family on account OF
gambling habits. In July, 1872, he re-
turned to London with letters OF intro
duction TO the Prince Of Wales and to
the Lord Mayor, and pretended that he
Was authorized to collect money for the
aid Of the poverty stricken people OF
Paris. There was much sympathy IN
England with the sufferers in Paris at
that time, and the Queen had started a
subscription for their relief. Benson
was exposed as fraud after he had re-
ceived check for 81, 900 from the re-
firing Lord Mayor of London. The
money was takon away from him, and he
was sent to prison for year.
Benson's family suffered from the no.
toriety attending his arrest, and at that
time the rogue appeared TO be overcome
with remorse. lie poured oil on his
clothes and ret fire to them, but the
prison-keepers rescued him after he had
been burned seriously. He recovered
before he had served out his term, but
was SCARED for life.
After his release from prison he pro-
cured employment on a sporting news
paper published in London by man
named Kerr. The paper was devoted
chiefly TO news OF the turf, and Kerr was
trusted with large sums of money by per
sons who wished to make bets on the
races. While earning Is per week as
reporter for the newspaper, Benson dis
covered that Kerr was swlndllng the per-
sons who intrusted their money TO him.
He threatened to expose Kerr, and Kerr
took him into partnership.
HIGH CLASS VICTIMS OF A TURF AGENCY.
From that on they made large sums of
money out of persons who were intatu-
ated with gambling on the turf, yet were
ignorant of racing methods. One OF
their victims was the Countess Goncault,
who was swindled out of $4,000 She
finally saw through their plan OF robbery
and tried to have them arrested. For
time the rogues kept in hiding, but they
were caught after a storm Of indignation
had been raised in London over the
apparent incapacity of the Scotland
Yard detectives Later it was discovered
that three OF the detectives, Nicholj John,
Neskowitz, and Palmer, had been inter
ested in the swinding business and had
helped to keep Kerr and Benson in
hiding. All were convicted. Benson
and Kerr were sent to prison for fifteen
years each, and the detectives for four
years each. After Benson had been in
prison for seven years he was released on
ticket OF leave"
In January, 1886, he was arrested in
Brussels for falsely representing himself
as q newspaper agent and selling bogus
news 10 a syndicate Of newspapers. He
managed to get out on bail and to escape
from Belgium. He went to Switzerland
next and sold q number OF worthless
bonds there. Before be was found ont
and arrestedat Geneva, he had forwarded
some drafts TO a bank in New York. He
managed to escape conviction in Swift
erland, aud he came to this city with the
expectation of getting the money on the
drafts. The bank refused TO pay the
drafts, but he began a suit against the
directors, and sent TO Geneva for re-
cord of his discharge. While thus en-
gagged he learned of Mr.. Abbey's plan
to give Patti concerts in Mexico, and
concluded to collect some money from
the Mexicans before Mr.. Abbey got
there. In Mexico he dealt with
ticket spectators, in order to
prevent the public from getting a
hint of his plan, knowing that in
formation OF a supposed public sale Of
tickets might be telegraphed to this city.
With s22, 900 of Mexican money in his
pocket be took train for FL Paso just
IN time to escape arrest. The train was
stopped on the way 10 FL Paso and
searched, but Benson had so disguised
himself that he was not recognized. He
exchanged his Mexican money for green
backs before he reached New York.
THE DETECTIVES LONG HUNT FOR BENSON.
Mr.. Abbey teleqraphed TO the police
of this city about the swindle in Mexico,
but acknowledgements Adams and
Handy could not find Benson. II was