It is always amusing to the man in the street when those in authority are hoaxed and made to look foolish. This was the type of trick that Bir. de Vere Cole, Prince of Hoaxers, loved Jdoing, though he never seriously inconvenienced a soul. Once, when 2 student at Cambridge, he earned that. the Sultan of Zansibar was on a visit to England, so Mr. Cole decided to'impersonate him and honour Cambridge with his. presence. Cote had his arrival advertised, and, disguising himself to perfection, arrived one fine morning at Cambridge with his reftinue—all disguised undergraduates. The mayor, the town clerk, and a number of University officials. were Swindlers of the "Major Crane" type are invariably keen psychologists who live by exploiting the cupidity of human nature. Most people believe luck, and hope that good fortune will overtake them in some mira-culeus fashion. This is the weakness fon which swindlers thrive—otherwise Oscar M, Hartzell would never have got away with the story that he was the rightful heir to the Drake millions.
Once a valet, Hartzell managed to live for ten years in frst class hotels in London because of his plausible manner. Eventually he was deported, and went to America where he was even more convincing. He made capital out of the most insignificant things, "He had, for example, bowler hat on. the lining of which was the maker's label with the words "By appointment to his Majesty One of Hartzell's most impressive tricks was to whip off his hat and exhibit the lining to prove his intimacy with the British Royal Family.
The "Owner of Devonshire He soon became known as "Baron"
'Hartzell, and spread the tale that he, the righitul heir, was fighting' a claim for the Drake millions. He told the people of America that the Drake fortune was worth five thousand million pounds! Some of it, he said, consisted of the Crown jewels, He was also the owner of the whole of the county of Devonshire, as well as 1,100 acres in the heart of London.
Hartzell told_his dupes that most of Sir Francis Drake's treasure was hidden ina ship on the Thames, closely guarded by British troops, and that the real object of the World Economic Conference—convened 1933—was secretly to discuss the dis posal of the Drake fortune. A small Claborately illustrated booklet was printed selling forth these and innumerable equally fantastic claims, and circulated throughout the States.
Far from being shouted down as a charlatan and an impudent imposter, Hartzell received the strongest support. Witty thousand small-town farmers, shop girls, typists and clerks ccontribuited a sum of £300,000, which enabled him to live in luxury." When he was arrested eventually, he told his victims that he was the descendant of a son born secretly of a marriage between Queen Elizabeth and Sir Francis. Drake! Moreover, King George—who was seared of the truth Teaking out—had ordered his arrest. On the strength of this staggering claim his dupes unbelted a further £12,000 for Hartzell's defence.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.