KEAST, THE EVANGELIST.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 253, 1 November 1897, Page 5

KEAST, THE EVANGELIST.

BEFORE THE POLICE COURT,

At the Police Court this morning before Mr H. W. Brabant, S.M., Richard Henry Keast was brought up on remand and charged that on or about June sth, at Onehunga, be did forge a certain letter purporting to be signed by one, Lucy Aspin, tor the sum of £2, and utter the same to one, Daniel Alexander Grey, thereby obtaining the sum of £I.—'-Lucy Aspin, a young woman, was the first witness. She

states that she knew the accused Keast. The letter (produced) was not written by her, and she gave Keast no authority to write it (the latter admitted that it was, in his handwriting). About three weeks after Juneoth her father held up this letter to her and asked her why she didn't send home for money instead of drawing it from Mr Grey. She replied that she knew nothing about it. Keast, who was present at the time, said he had got the money, but did not like to let witness know about it-.^Witness never received aft envelope from t_3s,.accused containing' two half-sovereigns, npr did she hear anything about it.

Daniel Grey, storekeeper, of Onehunga, said that Mr Aspin sent him a letter introducing Keast. The latter came to witness' shop about three weeks later, and said he had a letter from Miss Aspin. The letter was asking for £2, and witness put two half-sovereigns, all the change he had at the time, in an envelope, with a note to Miss Aspin aud gave it to Keast. Afterwards witness and Mr Aspin went up to see the accused about the letter. Keast and Miss Aspin were at the Terminus Hotel, Onehunga, and the latter when questioned denied having received any money, or having any knowledge of the letter. The accused then admitted that it was he who wrote the letter.—By the Court: Witness thought the letter was in Miss Aspin's handwriting, and that Keast was merely a messenger. Tbe latter simply presented it, and said nothing about its contents, it was in a sealed envelope. He understood Keast and Miss Aspin were engaged.

John Aspin, farmer, of Awhitu, also gave evidence. Asked as to whether he knew the accused, he replied " I am very sorry to say that I do." He was introduced to Keast about April by another settler, named Pachond. A day or two after Keast came over to witness' farm and asked if he could make room for him. He said be bad taken a fancy for witness' daughter Lucy, and would like to make her his wife. Witness said he did not keep boarders, but if Keast chose to share a room with his son liy might do so. Kcp^st said he was good for £1 a week, and eventually stayed with them for three weeks.

By tbe Court: Keast, as far as witness could see, bad no business in that part of the country.

Sergeant Clarke : Did you not learn that he was paid by some Society to preach ? Witness: He told me that he was preaching religion in different parts of the country, and that be had been paid for preaching by some Society, but bad resigned. Continuing, witness said Keast also gave Miss Aspin a number of papers to show witness, signed by different ministers. After a stay of three weeks Keast aud witness' daughter left for town. Before leaving Keast wrote down a list of tilings that would be required for the wedding—currants and things (laughter). About live weeks later witness went with Mr Grey to the Terminus Hotel, Onehunga, where accused and Miss Aspin were staying. Witness' evidence with regard to tho interview which took place, corroborated the previous witnesses. He asked Keast when he was going to pay for the goods lie had ordered lor the wedding, £10 worth, and tbe latter said his sister would be out from town that evening and would pay the bill on the following Monday. Witness put the case in the hands of (he police.

Mr Brabant: Did he ever pay the £1 a week for bis board '!

Witness : Nut a fraction, Your Worship (laughter).

Were Keast and your daughter married . No, sir. They were to be married on June 23rd.

" And you had sufficient confidence in his honesty to entrust your daughter to him ':"

" Well," said the witness, " me and my missus held a council of war and wc ' thought the man was genuine, and having this religious cloak over him, wc had not the slightest suspicion. It appeared moreover that everyone else in the district was deceived in like manner. Then his promises were so enticing," continued the witness : " the day Lucy was married she was to get £3,000, and I was to get a big sum." (Laughter.) Acting-Detective Kennedy deposed to arresting the accused on September 10th, in College Hill Road. Keast said be " would tell him all .about it," and proceeded to say that he had been staying at the Coffee Palace where Miss Aspin was also staying, and as she was short of clothes and he had no money he wrote a letter to Mr (Irey asking for money. Miss Aspen did not know he wrote the letter. In answer to the charge Keast said, " I did not mean to forge anything. I merely got the money to oblige Miss Aspin, and the £1 I got 1 spent to get things for her. The pound was spent all but a penny, and 1 can get a lady in Victoria-street to witness that I got the things there."

The accused was then committed to take his trial at the Supreme Court.