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Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 200, 23 August 1919, Page 22

TRAVELLER, GOLD DIGGER, SPECULATOR. AXD HIS MAJESTY'S GUEST. (More than fifiy years ago, a small redheaded boy, seated on a form in the Uramrrter School at Hanvarden, hard by the residence of the Gladstone fa;nily, informed the small boy at his side that he intended to become a rich man. He had heard of the miphty resolve of youns Warren Hastings to recover the lands of Ms forefather?. He, too would be somebody in the world before he died. Tie was strong, self-confident, pugnacious. He could fisht any boy of his form, and he displayed a "eurenees" in his childish dealings that impressed the listener to the story of his ambitions. That boy was Edn-ard Gordon Hop wood, now notorious In criminal annals a< "The tsxi-o&b murderer." No career was more fruitful in the ndventure of the double life: none displayed more varied activities alike in the direction of pood and evil. He went early to the United States, and found excitement and stranpe pursuits out in the Far "West. Travelled to the cold--BeHs of the Klondyke. and returned to England—almost penniless. He had always a saniuine temperament, however, took up insurance work, and sat down steadily to make headway. He won his fight, married a lady of good family, and made his home in Birminsham. THE TTRI-GHT CITIZEN. At this time he was making a big income, ■sras respected, and apparently lived the life of an upright citizen and an Irreproachable There were a fevr people who knew otherThe respectable and respected ■Ed-ward Hopwood went the pace during Us not Infrequent visits to the Metropolis He speculated In the city; he debauched in the West "End. He borrowed money, and wasted it in desperate dissipation. At length, worried by financial entanglements, he took the step that was to spell out his first downfall—he attempted to form a new company for insurance. Hp had no scruple in his methods, and was at length arrested for attempting to obtain money by frand. convicted, and sentenced to is months' Imprisonment. Tap man. curiously enough, always insisted on his* innocence, and began an agitation for a -Court of Criminal Appeal such as to-day Is in existence. A HYTWOTTC SPELL. On "nis release he conceived the Wea of establishing a new garden rity. With this object in view he took an office in Broad Street, got together a committee of reputable men, -whom, -with that cunning which arwaj-s characterised him, be managed to impress, and obtained an option on a large estate not far from Chatham. He seemed to have made a palpable hit. obtained wide publicity, took larger offices in Whitehall—the rent of which was still owing when the crash came—and actually made arrangements for a great field day when the ne-w garden city was to be sold in plots. But revelations came, and the whole business collopsed in noisy ruin. He "was anxious all the time concerning his conviction, however, and sent several <v»mmunlcatlons to Lord Gladstone—the then "Home Secretary—pointing out that he •α-ae an old Hawarden schoolboy and praying for the King's free pardon. The free pardon never came: the authorities at Scotland Yard knew too much concerning The man's double life. BLACKMAIL. But little did Hopwood's train acquaintances imagine taat their companion, the man of pleasing jest and boundless geniality, was even then plunging into the lowest forms of vice. Among his criminal accomplishments -was blackmail. An instance of his activities in this direction came under my own notice. Meeting a maji in the Strand whose necessities were pressing, Hopwood offered him employment for one night. He had to occupy a certain room in a big London hotel, and to remain there till Hopirood came along. The task seemed simple; the proffered five shillings was tempting. When Hopwood joined hln "emplr.rce." Sotrever, and explained the position, the hard-np map. Indignantly declined to rein the rooms adjoining were staying two T^ople—a wealthy corn merchant and a yeoman. Hopwood had actually secured a key tha f would open the door, and a camera which his assistant was to use in the dawn of the neit morning. The merchant was to pay hush money. His final escapade opened in a London restaurant. The -woman with whom he was dining was a minor actress to whom, flmong others. Hopwood had been paying attention. After dinner the man ordered a tax!, and then drove to Fenonurch Street. He was desperately In need of money. It Tvonld seem, and urged the woman to part •with the few pounds in her possession, and. at any rate, he shot her dead and then fired a bullet Into his own head. He -was carried to the hospital, and wi-Hi policemen watching by his side day and night nursed to recovery. Th Pn came suc-<-e=slre police court appenranc ( .s i an <i finally his second— nnrl last —in the doc- at New Bailey. It t->ok less than ten minutes for the trained, acute minds on the Bench to grasp the -weakness of Hi* prisoner* appeal Edirard Gordon Hopwood, c om pany promoter, genial companion, ambitions m . self-confident. -wicked -n-a=. doomed to die.