Montreal's legendary diamond thief

  Montrealer Max Dortman became a internationally-sought criminal legend con by swindling elderly couples out of diamonds and other jewelry by basic sleight of hand.
   Dortman, who also went by the fake name of Mike Dorffman, was first busted by the FBi in 1919 and was also apprehended in such places as Bombay, Vienna and Toronto.
   One scam would be to offer to sell diamonds at a low cost but at the last minute switch the previous jewels with other items such as buttons, sugar cubes of pebbles while the victim looked away.
  When Dortman was busted in Montreal for a $4,000 diamond switch in Kingston, Ontario in 1959, it was noted that he had also previously been busted in South America, the Caribbean, and many North American cities between 1920 and 1943.  
   "He is one of the real old timers and we have known him in Montreal for many years. He has done everything from switching diamonds to playing card tricks," said Sgt. Olivier.
    His last arrest took place in Miami in early November 1962 when cops spotted him leaving a hotel at 350 Ocean Drive hauling scales and $800 cash.  He also had $1,100 stuffed in his shoe.
    Dortman, 67, was booked into a jail cell where he suffered a fatal heart attack. They reported his Montreal home address to be 4586 Kingston, most likely meaning 4586 Kensington.