A MYSTERY WOMAN.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 52, 1 March 1919, Page 19

A MYSTERY WOMAN.

STORY OF DIAMONDS. . LEGACY, AND A LUNCHEON. A story of a luncheon at Romano's, a legacy of £4,000, and the intended purchase of diamonds worth £3,000 was told at Westminster, when William Howard Wilson, otherwise Williams, .To, electrical engineer. High Street, Bloomsbury, and Henry Wilson, 00, costumier, of Claverton Street, Plmllco, were charged with being concerned with a woman not in custody in acquiring by fraud 12 brilliants, valued at £795, from Mr Andre Knops, a Belgian diamond merchant. Mr. Roome, prosecuting, said that Williams and Mr. Knops .met in the Pullmancar train from Brighton. In conversation Williams said be was working in the ofllce of the Food Controller in order to be exympt from military duties. He later vistted Mr. Knops' diamond factory, chose some diamonds "for his wife," and subsequently introduced \llenry Wilson. It was arranged that some stones selected should be paid for by Wilson through Williams. Mr. Knops was invited by Williams to meet bis wife at Romano's —"just a table for three"—and at this meeting "Mrs. Williams" said she had a legacy of £4,000 and wanted to invest £3.000 in diamonds. They were selected, but Mr Knops asked for a settlement of the other account. After that Williams telegraphed that he had been called away into the country and the account was not paid. A detect!-, said that Williams made the following statement when arrested:— "Wilson has not had any of the stones or the money I got for them. The woman who was at the lunch was not my wife. I only met her a short time ago. and I don't 'know where she lives. I did not ask Knops for the stones. He handed them to mc. So how can I be charged with false pretences. I am sorry this has happened. I was doing very well." Williams was remanded in custody, and Wilson was released on £100 bail.