Jabez Balfour the memorial plaques at Croydon University Hospital (formerly Mayday Hospital). Croydon Road and Tamworth Road in Arthur's Hill, Newcastle upon Tyne, were built using funds invested in the Liberator Building Society and named in tribute to Balfour. Jabez Balfour Jabez Spencer Balfour (4 September 1843 – 23 February 1916) was an English businessman, British Liberal Party politician and fraudster. Balfour was born in Marylebone, London to James and Clara Lucas Balfour. He was Member of Parliament for Tamworth from 1880 to 1885, and for Burnley from 1889 to 1893. Balfour was also interested in local politics in his home town
Jabez Balfour Society, leaving thousands of investors penniless. Instead of advancing money to home buyers, the Liberator had advanced money to property companies to buy properties owned by him, at a high price. After the swindle was discovered, Balfour fled the country. He was arrested in Argentina by Inspector Frank Froest of Scotland Yard in 1895; with extradition proceedings held up by legal wrangling, Froest simply bundled Balfour into a train and then a boat sailing for England, "The Tartar Prince". The captain of the ship, Thomas Hesketh, later received a letter from Balfour thanking him for the kindness and hospitality shown