1959-10-24 — Page 5

THE CHINA. MAIL, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24 =1958 -

'After a very little while I felt ninety years old'

Mr SCHIFFMAN—"I heard a scuffle over the phone," she said.

it wasn't feminine to know the time

PODOLA AND I

AM a model, and my home is in

New York. I take part in TV shows (perhaps you remember me in Hughie Green's "Double Your Money"?), I meet the famous folk who go to fashion shows, I wear beautiful clothes.

That is the Verne O'Hara side of me, the New York model the newspapers wrote about.

I am so an ordinary girl, born in Kent with the unglamorous name of Malvina Sharpe. I tocic up modelling, changed the "Malvina" to Verne, and 11 years ago married

an American.

11 so happens I am madly superstitious. half a Every day I read my horoscope In dozen papers, and very often 1 am guided and influenced by what they say. So are millions of other women (and, i muspect, men too).

Passport is missing

Before I left America for this holiday 1 consulted the stars, which warned: "Condi- tions for travel are not entirely favourable,"

If it had been left to me, 1 might have postponed the trip. But I did not want to dis- appoint my little girl, Lesile, and come over, For a while we had a wonderful time at that fat in Roland House until Friday, July 3. Then Mr Lake - a neighbour knocked on my door and told me his flat had been broken into, his passport was missing, and he was about to tell the police.

I remember saying: "It's a good job the burglar didn't call here, or he'd have had a really good haul." I had three passports to look after in my nat, Number 84: my own and my daughter's and one belonging to an Ameri- can man friend,

-until she had a Rolex

Beware of counterfeits

buy only from

authorized dealers,

Ours was a simple arrange- ment. He was living in a Bat- cum-office and didn't like to leave his passport and private papers around.

So be handed them to me for safekeeping in a locked brief-

CASE

Fingerprints

I said to myself: "Oh, Verne, remember the stars: you never did want to come on this holl day. How right you were."

Astonished

1

by

Schiffn

He said he had a complete ale on me, including

tapo the

recordings and pictures didn't say of what), but that for 500 dollars he would hand it all over and report back his employer that I was lending a biomeless lifet

to

-He warned mo mot to go to the police. The letter was signed "Lovine, Detective, U.S.A."

It was rubbish, of course, Apart from the fact that I have never done a thing to be oshamed of-why, oh why, do some people always assume model must be a scarlet woman? -even I saw right away that no man was going to walt Ave years his before "reporting back” to employer.

I realised the names he hnd used must have come from my passport. I told my father, who lives in London, and he said at once, "Go to the police."

Phone rings

They told me at ürst they thought the letter had been (Podola writion by a woman. drafted the letter first in a diary he had stolen from Mr Lake's fit. The police compared this with the handwriting in the letter to Mrs Schiffman, and found they were the same-and that ao woman or third party had been involved).

BERGEANT PURDY Remember my name"

Anyway, they said, "Let know if "Mr. Levine' tries contact you again."

us

It began with a

phone call

AT 11.10. on. Sup

day, July 11. Tour pennies were dropped into London telephone box and Guenther Frits Podola dialled FREmande 0919.

A

This was intended as a blackmail call: but, in fact, Podola was at that moment dialling M for Murder.

PODOLA under sentence of death,

Well, it doesn't matter. If you

I was scared sun. But they

have I will come and get you were so quiet and confident, I sooner or later."

drow my rátion of courage from Then I heard 'what sounded them.

like a scule over the phone.

Mrs Verne Schiffman, * slim, bine-eyed New York model on holiday in Len- tele- don, answered the phone. And there began the

I heard chain of events that ended 26 hours later in the Ber- murder of Detective gwani Rasmond Purdy of the Chelsea Police,

This is Mr Boblitman's uwn story of the robbery. attempted blackmail, and that the days of fear followed Podols's escape after the myrder.

ed by saying I was willing

to

*Mir

We all sat around. looking Fisher" shout, and feeling rather self-conscious, "Hey, what do you want?" and I read my horoscope when they a voice answer,”“Okay, lad, we weren't looking, and Lady Luck are police officers."

for the day said: "Leave oby- Then the phone was picked thing that is running badly to will sort it out." up and I heard the same voice time, which By: "MRS SCHIFFMAN, THIS So I did just that. SERGEANT IS DETECTIVE PURDY

PLEASE MEMBER MY NAME."

At last, I thought, they've caught him: I went to my neighbour's flat and we drank

I asked what I had to do and RE- they told me, "Just answer the phone calls. If anyone comes to the door, get behind the wall and we'll do the rest.”

The other guards were just an a cup of tea to celebrate,

brave. I felt very humble, and Then I remembered some. I think of those men when I thing: in his phone talk, the hear all this talk about the

chaps.

band over only 300 dollars.

give you the man had admitted being in my police force and their methods. I said: "I'

re- flat. I wondered if the police I doubt if I'll ever-meet finer rest when I get my tape cordings, not before." He was ought to know. So I called the

Detective Sergeant Chambers flous because I didn't trust Police at Chelsea and asked for

C.L.D.

(Sergeant Chambers, G.M.) him!

I was foeling very gay and called within the hour. He saw "What's Ho

the dic- sald

elated (I hate to think of it i was close to breaking point nomination the bills?" I now) and I said, "Oh, ballo, and he cracked Jokes to cheer said, "Fifties,

Mrs Schilikman here" in a very me up. He goi should bovo

1

of

angry brain,

Mr Chambers, who had just asked you to happy tone of voice.

bes! pal murdered, change them into small bills policeman answered quiet had his

Sly: Mrs Schiffman, Sergeant always found time to sit with. tho told me "Never mind. I'il

Purdy has been shot.”

me and comfort me in his gentle special them. In check

It didn't register for a minute. way..."You must never blame to machine I have to make sure I sold "Shot, who by?" and he yourself in any way for Ray's they're not marked. Then I'll told me "By that man who was death," he said. "You did the

phoning you.”

right thing in coming to us."

By Wednesday, the night, wives of the police

third Chelsea and

any guards sending me

sandwiches and insty little snacks. I sholi never forget their kindneJS,

I said "How is he, is be oh WHEN hurt?" Still not really worry

"I am

3

Never again

a;

were

Well, I didn't bother to check my fat (it peened all in order), and

with went away

my daughter for the week-end. When I got back I found my around Jewels gone worth $5,000 (£1,785)-my mint stole (valued at $1,500) (£335) Kone, and the three passports gone.

the I reported at once to police. They took my jewel box away for Angerprint tests, and they fingerprinted me 30 my That

neighbours at send you the evidence." night Roland House told me a man All this while I was saying prints could be eliminated.

"Mr Fisher," do myself "when, calling himself and speaking with an American will the police ever get on to in, and the policeman said in

and then, bang in the an odd sort of voice, accent, had phoned asking if I him?" was in my dat. All this I told middle of our conversation, the afraid it is the worst,"

phone went dead. to the police.

"Do you mean dead?" OFF. I WE WERE CUT On Sunday, July 12, at 11.30 could have wept. I felt sure the I began to cry then, and On Tuesday, July 7, 1 went in the morning, my phone rank would smell a rat now and stay remember saying, "If only I had

of Schiffman?" asked to the American Embassy

and "Mrs

and I said out loud, never gone to the police about "Goodbye, jewels. reported the loss of the pass- voloc. "My name is Mr Fisher. Away

Goodbye, the robbery.", and the police- I rarely slept, I used to go ДБ 1 scrious I am acting for Mr Levine. He

over in my mind everything mink."

man answered, in a very etern Involves endless wants to know your answer."

had Then, incredibly; he rang mẹ voice: "Now, please, Mrs Schil Fodola

said, trying to the Acling on police instructions I

one ittle clue that answered: "Yes. I' pay the again. I said his name out loud man. Nobody blames you in remember

I said any way for what happened to would help my boys catch him. 500 dollars he wants. What do to tip the police off.

mything could think

I began to feel it would never Ray" I have to do now?"

Someone--I don't know who end. I looked in vain for " He said he would ring back keep him talking.

I offered him 1,000 dollars to explained there was a chance favourable sign in my horo- after speaking to Mr Levine. tell me the name of the man in the killer of Sergeant Purdy scope, Nothing. Then, out of Again I told the police. On New York who had hired him. might try to come back and the blue, the moment came Monday the 13th (the day poor He said "Gucas" and I men back up his threat to get me. when the police telephoned to Sergeant Purdy died) "Mr tioned the

someone My imhedinte reaction was say it was all over! THEY vory dear to me, someone who to get out fast "No one, can HAD FOUND PODOLA. He sidd I would get my final had never left London for years, order you to stay," they saldı. I saw him for the first time instructions at 2.30 p.m.

"He said, "Oh, you're a bright "But, Mrs Schiffman, he was o at the magistrate's court before police ranged that as soon as girl, you're on the right track," good chap. You can help us the trial, I could only bear to I recognised his voice in the I could boar him mastling the catch his murderer."

look at him once. Now I don't 2.30 call 1 was to say his name, leaves of a book, right close to Dennis and Bill, the first of want to see even his picture I opened it. It was written thin the GPO, engineers would the phone, so I asked what my guards to arrive, were in again. on pale pink paper

and trace the call and inform the book it was,

the flat shortly afterwards. It And you can be sure of one addressed to "Madame," The C.ID. I was to keep him talk- "My casebook," he said. was a sad little meeting.

thing. writer claimed to be an Ameri- ing as long as possible.

"Detalis of all my tornous cases. We shook hands next thes Mrs Verne Schiffman Will can detective "hired to check It was in fact three o'clock You must have read them," told Jusc what they know. never again ignore What The on my behaviour" for the past when he called. 1 gave the

Then he said, "Say, bave you asked them if they were armed Stars Foretell! five years.

police their signal, then I stall- been to the police about this?" and they said "No."

London Express Servic@},

ports. This matter and

authorities.

communication

with

was

Next morning, when I pottering about in my flat Chow very hot it was that day!) heard a knock at the door.

I

I was astonished when the boy handed me a "special deli very" letter, and even more astonished to see it addressed in my full legal name of Malvina Joan Schiffman, which very few of my friends know and none ever uses.

Fisher" phoned again.

FOUR D. JONES

CH MY GOSH.

WHAT A PLACE. NOT A SOUL IN SIGHT...

The

JONES WANDERS ALONG THE LONELY MOUNTAIN

ATENTÍ : WONDERY

IF THERE'S ANYONE.

·AT HOME? ER Maths there!

by MADDOCKS

***MUST BE. SOMEON"

INSIDE. I WONDER IHG'S FRIENDLY!, ..good evening.!!!

NEW

Lady Sheaffer

*EKMIPRENT FOUNTAIN PER

Never befor

· pan to expres jour personat taste in Am Jewelry. Never gose hear an ink kozile.....t Fases drop-in cariridze of

Skrip writing field.

VNITED PAPER 00, LTE,

Lost in an ecstasy of living

Hot, gorgeous five lite,

With great big ros

And for..

And cara, waiting,

And rach, delectable men, waiting、 . •

What did the beed with the lime?

It was's horrid, precise and complately unnecessary.

detail,

It wasn't ferulbine i

But one man

Who had the superbly manlike «bility,

To criculase, sogwilmes, that the thing a woman anyt

she docui't want is the one thing she does,

Brought bar » Rolex watch..

He was different from all the others,

He came out of a cloud of szimirers who all looked

the sure,

With something new.

Holex watcli

And suddenly it was a better ides than soy the ̧

other had hat.

It was minic personal than miak—and very beautiful.

It was more femlaloe than cara-even though it was

precision perfect.

It was completely hers.

BRICK BRADFORD

"BENDAS BAK IN GALLIED, T7 THE STAND

THE COURT ARTERIES PRAISES HIS

YOURI

A FEW MINUTES LATER THE PUBLIC

DERENDER TAKES BRICK TO A MESTING

CUE TO THE NATU OF THIS CASE, WELL

"CONTINIE "VITHI

BY MACHIN

By Paul Norris.

IF THE DEFENDANT" IS WILLING GME TESTIMONY

THIS

DI BELIEVE YOU, BRADFORD THATS WHY:IVE BROUGHT

HEZO, WHEN THE

URED THE RES

ENCLU YOU LIVE OR PIE,

San Miguel

Gives that

ROLEX

A landmuste in the liliemny of Time escaunesmenet