A difficulty with identity

In the modern world we constantly have to jump through hoops to prove who we are. For this we can blame generations of fraudsters and charlatans who went before us, writes Richard Stenlake

Born in Australia, James Campbell Besley went to the Yukon in his late teens and embezzled huge sums by forging stolen cheques before legging it to South Africa where he made big profits from gold mining interests. Returning to America in 1903 to stand trial, incredibly he was acquitted on legal technicalities. Nine years later a proposed marriage to a rich heiress was called off because the marriage would be bigamous. In 1913 Belsey (now ‘Captain Belsey’) organised the first of two expeditions to South America, then spent many years touring the world lecturing about his adventures. Like his military career and his back story most of it was entertaining lies.

Pioneer aviator ‘Colonel’ S F Cody used his similarity of looks and borrowed the surname of Buffalo Bill essentially to deceive the public. Again, the truth of his life was massaged into something it wasn’t, but his experiments with kites led to his employment by the Army and despite not having a technical background ‘Cody’ built the first plane in Britain capable of making a flight.

Poor Adolf Beck told the truth though and nobody believed him! He had also made money from mining overseas, but was in financial difficulties when arrested for swindling the jewellery from a woman. There were 22 similar unsolved cases on the books and Beck got seven years. Eventually released on parole he was re-arrested on similar charges. No less than five lady victims identified him as the culprit so he was again convicted, but while behind bars, the real culprit struck and this time was nabbed. Beck was pardoned by the King and received substantial compensation.