SHAM ARISTOCRAT'S CAREER.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 76, 1 April 1899, Page 5 (Supplement)

SHAM ARISTOCRAT'S CAREER.

THE PRODIGAL'S LETTER TO THE

KIND CLERGYMAN,

Some singular evidence was given at Marlborough-street at the resumed hearing of the charge against Alfred Gregory, a well-dressed man. who refused to give any account of himself, of obtaining money by fraud from a publican to whom lie represented that he was the .Honourable Lincoln Stanhope. Mr Frayling, who appeared to prosecute on behalf of the Treasury, called the Rev, j-Mfred Caleutt, vicar of St. Alphege's, Blackfriars, who said that about a doien years ago he knew^the prisoner as a worshipper under the name of Royston. Five or sis; years ago the prisoner called on him and told him he was going with the Duke of Marlborough to India as a courier. Last December he called again, accompanied by a young woman, who he said was. ths Countess of Warwick. He called again in January, and shortly aTcer his departure a number of cheques were missed from the room in which he had been left. At his next visit the clergyman accused him of stealing the choques. Gregory begged for mercy, and said he i had got into difficulties, adding that his mother was the Countess of Harrington. On one occasion after pleading for money on his knees, he induced the vicar to advance him £4 13/, ALL THE MONEY HE HAD ABOUT HIM, ghing in exchange an I O U, which was never honoured. On January 31 he wrote to Ihe vicar, 'Dear, dear father, I am writirg again now to beg of you to do me a favour.' He v:ent on to say that he was in a miserable frame of mind, and that a young lady named Ruby, 'a. darling sweet girl,' would call upon his reverence on behalf of tiic writer. The letter concluded:— 'I implore you to grant an interview. Hold out your hand of mercy towards mn and save me.' Ruby Dunville, a fashionably dressed young- woman, living in Huntloy-street, Tottenham Court Road, said she met ihe prisoner casually about a month ago. He said he was the Hon. Lincoln Stanliops, and that his mother, the Countess of Har-r-n#ton, allowed him £3SO a year. They lived together for some time, she supplying him with food. He had pawned some of her jewellery with her consent, and stole her diamond and sapphire bracelet. When she asked him for money he gave her three cheques on blank paper for a total of £70, drawn on Drummond's Bank. The bank refused to oash them. The prisoner was again remanded. «».,