Fraud Squad: Brother Simple (ITV 27 May 1969, with Elvi Hale)

In Brother Simple Vicky goes undercover at a religious fellowship/cult when a Mr Butcher, approaches the Squad after his wife sells everything and joins the fellowship.

Mr Butcher is convinced that the head of the Fellowship, Brother Simple, has deliberately defrauded he and his wife after she sells all their valuables to give to the fellowship.

After an initial investigation Gamble discovers that all if the 30 people that make up the “brethren” came from wealthy backgrounds and gave a lot of money to the Fellowship. Vicky, though, seems to have no doubt about the sincerity of Brother Simple.

Gamble investigates further, having managed to get surreptitious fingerprints from a glass handled by Brother Simple, and discovers that he has a criminal record for fraud. He discovers that most of the money that is donated disappears into a Swiss bank account.

Unfortunately for Gamble there doesn’t seem to be any concrete proof that will allow him to bring Brother Simple in, so he decides on another tactic.

An entertaining episode with a most unlikely religious sect at the heart of the story.

classic quote
“Making money is supposed to be difficult, it appears that making poverty is even harder.”

production details
UK / ITV – ATV / 1×50 minute episode / Broadcast Tuesday 27 May 1969 at 9.00pm

Writer: Joshua Adam / Production Design: Don Fisher / Director: Michael Currer-Biggs

Series: Fraud Squad Season 1 Episode 2

cast
Patrick O’Connell as Gamble
Joanna Van Guseghem as Vicky Hicks
Ralph Nossek as Superintendent Proud
Elvi Hale as Mrs Butcher/Sister Serenity
Michael Coles as Brother Simple
Madeleine Christie as Sister Sanctity
Alex McDonald as Brother Trueheart
Geoffrey Reed as Mr Butcher
Maurice Quick as Waiter
Will Stampe as Mr Roberts
Elspet Gray as Mrs Wyndham Grant
Geoffrey Kenion as Detective Constable Fox
Julian Herington as Buyer in fur shop
Denis de Marne as Buyer at car mart
Frank Tregear as Buyer in jewellers