AN ARISTOCRATIC COOK.

Northern Advocate, 12 June 1913, Page 3

AN ARISTOCRATIC COOK.

SMARTEST WOMAN ABOUT TOWN

Melbourne is laughing to-day over the brilliant masquerading of a young woman who has puzzled the police for some months. She has victimised drapers, motor garage proprietors, and housewives, being materially assisted by a faultless address and a smart outfit. *

Four months ago a pretty young woman was engaged as cook by Mr Cathcart, at Geelong. She was a good cook. She was also an accomplished student of the fashions, and when she took her evening out she was the smartest woman about town. She made such an impression upon the local tradespeople, to whom she introduced herself as Mrs Cathcart's sister, that she was allowed to run up long accounts for feminine fripperies. Late in March she was expecting to be confined. She went to the big drapers to make further purchases and settle up. She presented a cheque for £55 drawn on a cheque form originally on the Inglewood branch, but Inglewood had been scratched out and Castlemaine substituted. The cheque was returned dishonored, but by that time the charming lady was in Melbourne. She had gone to the city by motorcar, paid for out of the £19 ssj 3d received as change from the false cheque. The woman was refused admission to Dr Stirling's private hospital, but gave birth next day to a stillborn child at a private hospital at Carlton. When she could get about again she went to a leading motor garage to negotiate for the purchase of a car. Her dress, | her furs, her languid and aristocratic manner impressed the manager. Her personal charm had a sensible effect also, and he took a £900 car up to the hospital to give her a trial run. The manager has since looked upon April 10 as one of his busy days. At "Mrs Rees' " request—that was the name ,she gave—two of the nurses accompanied her. The ladies were taken for a breezy run down by St. Kilda, and on the way back the manager took them to afternoon tea at the Vienna cafe. The party returned to the hospital at 6 p.m. During the run the manager had been striving to recollect where he had seen "Mrs Rees" before., Finally his memory seemed to tell him that it was in connection with a little money affair at Bairnsdale some years ago. ■ He taxed her' with it on the return, but she indignantly denied it. During the evening he brought his brother to see, her, unknown to her. He also recognised her, and when she learned this she broke down. The matron was informed, and naturally consternation prevailed. She was told she must" pay and depart, but she treated the matter very lightly, and said she would get the money from her room. She rushed upstairs into a fellow-patient's room, borrowed a £10-note, and handed this to the matron. At 11.30 p.m. she left, as also did the manager.

The gay adventuress retired into obscurity for a season. She went to the V.M.C.A. rooms and placed herself on their books as an applicant for a position as cook. On April 26 she was engaged by Mr Arthur Roberts, of "Arvelyn," Mitcham Road, Mitcham. Here she still maintained the dual role of humble servant and motoring lady. On April 30 she called up a car from a garage in Hawthorn to take her for a 30-mile drive. She met the car at the gate, passed herself off as Mrs Roberts, and at the end of the drive told the driver in an offhand way she wanted to go to Beechworth next day, and would probably require him for a fortnight. On May Day she started on the Beechworth trip.

Meanwhile Detective-Sergeant Bannon and Detective Mercer had been making inquiries, based on the Geelong report. They tracked the woman as far as Mrs Roberts' and then telephoned to the garage to ask if anything had been heard of Alexander Fraser, the chauffeur. No word had been received by his employers, but he had written to his sister to say that he was having "a great time," and money was plentiful. A telegram of instructions was sent to Senior-Con-stable Cameron, of Beechworth. During the evening a reply was received to the effect that the woman had been arrested by the local police on a charge of false pretences, and had been remanded until Saturday, pending the arrival of the warrant.