This Day in Norwood History- September 29, 1932- Swindler Caught by Norwood Secretary

HURLEY HELD AS CABLE SWINDLER

Pretty Norwood Secretary Causes His Arrest

Identified as Man Another Girl Paid $1295

Climaxing efforts of several weeks to capture an elusive “cablegram thief” who has mulcted prominent Bostonians of several thousand dollars in a fake liquor delivery game, Boston police yesterday arrested Michael T. Hurley, 43, of the Hotel LaSalle, through the clever work of a pretty Norwood secretary.

Thu, Sep 29, 1932 – 1 · The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts)

HURLEY HELD AS CABLE SWINDLER

In a lineup at Police Headquarters, Hurley was identified by Miss Mary F. Crane, secretary to attorney John C. Rice of the firm of Gaston, Snow, Saltonstall and Hunt, as the man to whom she had paid $1295 for three steamer trunks filled with 34 bottles of cheap wine and 40 bottles of ginger ale.

Suspicion Aroused

Hurley’s arrest came through the suspicions a cablegram aroused in the mind of Miss Anna McDonald, pretty blonde secretary to Dr. Joseph J. Hagerty of 761 Washington st, Norwood. As a result Hurley was taken into custody at the baggage room of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel as he was preparing to take $643 from Miss McDonald for a steamer trunk loaded with worthless liquor.

Inspector Joseph Decker and Sergt. Detective George Augusta of Police Headquarters, together with Chief of Police William H. Sullivan and Sergt j William J. Barrett of Norwood, arrested Hurley a moment after, they allege, Hurley told Miss McDonald the “package” would be delivered to her at Rowe’s Wharf upon the payment of $640.

Following the lineup at Police Headquarters Hurley had only to say, “Well, I guess I’m in the middle.”

MISS ANNA McDONALD
Who Brought About Hurley’s Arrest

He was booked as a suspicious person to prevent his obtaining bail and will be arraigned in the Municipal Court today.

Got Phone Call

According to the police, Miss McDonald received a telephone call last Saturday from a man who asked to speak with Dr Hagerty. He was told the doctor was in Europe and, she thought was in Berlin on that particular day.

Shortly after the telephone call, a cablegram was delivered at the doctor’s office. Miss McDonald opened It and it purported to come from Dr Hagerty. It told her to pay a large sum of money and receive a package from a man by the name of Kelly. The wire hinted that the matter wai confidential and that Miss McDonald should ask no questions.

Aroused by the unusual message, Miss McDonald gave it some thought and discovered that according to Dr Hagerty’s itinerary he would not be in Berlin at the time the cable apparently had been sent from that city. Accordingly she told her story to Chief Sullivan of Norwood and Sergt Barrett.

The Norwood officer came to Boston and told the story to Boston officers. On Tuesday “Kelly” called Miss McDonald on the telephone and gave her the message-to meet him at the baggage room of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel with $640.

Miss McDonald went to the room at the hour named, while Inspector Decker, Sergt Augusta and Barrett and Chief Sullivan waited outside. The officers allowed “Kelly,” or Hurley as he is now known, to talk a few minutes with Miss McDonald, and then arrested him.

MICHAEL T. HURLEY AT LEFT

Police said the same procedure was used in the case of attorney Rice, who was traveling In the British Isles early in September when the first cablegram arrived. On Sept 7, Miss Crane, Rice’s secretary, paid $430 to a man by the name of John Clark and received a steamer trunk which she did not open.

Later that day. Miss Crane received a second cable, requesting her to pay $865 to Clark on the following day and receive two more trunks. Miss Crane made the second payment, later becoming suspicious and informing police.

Police say many Bostonians have been victimized in this racket which has been employed by confidence men for many years. Because the victims I are usually wealthy persons, who would be more chagrined by having it known they purchased liquor than by the loss of the money, few cases, police say, are reported.