FALSE FRETENCES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 143, 19 June 1922, Page 7

FALSE FRETENCES.

f i) • A WIDOW AND HER MONEY. VICTURE PRODUCER'S MYTHICAL . " LAWSUIT. _j"'' \ tall, solemn-looking man. Wilfred Osborne, alias .lack Lovelace, wearing dido whiskers, stood in the dock at tho y a gj ß tratc's Court this morning on a serious charge, that on May 25. 1922. st Auckland, he did obtain from Alice Weston, with intent, to defraud, a i-hoquc for £200 by means of a false iire.tence, by falsely representing that, he hud deposited £4000 at the Bank of New Zealand at Wellington to pay for a lawsuit against the French Government, mid that he had lost the ease-and was afraid that the bank would suit him at once for £175 expenses in connection | ~-ith the lawsuit. j Chief Detective Mcllveney prosecuted, and Mr. Singer appeared for tho accused. Richmond Hamilton Brown, clerk Auckland Telegraph Office, produced a telegram handed in on May 24. The telegram, endorsed "C. Bennett," Albert Hotel, was as follows: -".lack Lovelace,! Imperial Hotel. Auckland—Confirmation received action lost, cabled England iour thousand pounds, vosts £17.1, call soon possible, important. Hennett." Alice Weston, a widow, residing at Princes Street, Auckland, said that on May 2 she read the following advertisement in the Auckland "Star": American tilm producer, formiug stock company in >'ew Zealand, desires meet ladies and gentlemen interested either financially or as artists. Write with photographs lo Producer, e/o Cordon and Crotch." Wanting to become a movie actress -witness replied to the advt. Later accused came to her Hat and said that he was ,T*ck Lovelaoe, and that he was going to build a studio near Wellington and produce films. He said he had produced pictures for the last 22 years in America, but. wanted to start a British film industry in New Zealand. Lovelace „id "'Vfhat family of We.stons do you Mong tot - ' Witness told him the Wcstuns of West Horsley Place, Surrey, England. He then said: "Then I am a connection of yours." Witness remembered that she bad a document signed by the Earl of Lovolaco. Accused answered questions about the Weston family and she thought he was a. distant relation. Accused said that he was interviewing suitable film actors and actress**, and showed her a prospectus, stating that witness was not to .show the prospectue to anybody, or else he would get gaol for it. The company he was about to float was to bo called "The Lovelace Film Production." Accused did not ask witness to put any money into the company at that time, 'but she told him she could put him on to some moneyed people in Auckland. At that time witness was only interested as an artist and believed relationship with the accused. Accused said that he had four pictures of hi* own which had to be taken either to tho South of France ot aver the Swiss border, and to pass the French Customs the duty would 'be about £100. Accused stated "that he gave a man 1500 with which to pay the duty, •hut that he "blew the money in," ana when the Customs asked him if he had anything to declare, he said "No." The Customs then found tho films, confiscated them and charged accused 33 times the ordinary duty, go accused's story to witness went. He said he had a case against the French Government. Witness asked accused why he did not wait in England until the case was fin ishod, but he replied that the doctoi advised him to come to New Zealand foi his health. He then informed the wit ness that he had to deposit with thi Bank of New Zealand at London £500( to enable the ease to proceed, anc to deposit a further £4000 in Welling ton for the same purpose. He requirec a further £150 in addition to tho £4000 After both had talked tho matter ovci a good deal, accused showed witnos* th< telegram received, and said that ho wa: greatly worried over losing the case. Shi said, "Well, look here. Jack. I'll see yoi through." Witness then drew £300 fron her account at the Savings Bank, am gave him a cheque for £200. Aceuaei knew that witness was a widow, an< that she had £300 in the bank, and wa getting the widows' pension and othe military payments. She belioved all tha lie had told her.

Evidence was given by F. B. Brewer, who was shown the telegram by accused, and also by John Murray, chief clerk in the Lambton Quay branch of the Bank of New Zealand, Wellington.

Detective-Sergeant R. Ward stated th_t accused was arrested at Dunedin on June 7 while en route to Melbourne by the Paloona. He had in his possession when arrested two money ordors payable at Melbourne for sums of _50. Accused since signed an authority at the post office to enable Mrs. Weston to get possession of the money given to the incused.

Accused pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. . : _,.