EXPENSIVE LOVE AFFAIR.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 123, 25 May 1923, Page 6

EXPENSIVE LOVE AFFAIR.

» AUSTRAXIAN GIRL TRICKED. LOSES LIFE-TIME'S SAVINGS. ' A POLICE COURT SEQUEL. I TJie story of a man's perfidy was told Ito Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., in the Police ! Court yesterday afternoon, when Arthur |Trousan, a married mani aged 34 years, ! was charged with obtaining from Florrie j Ruby Ley the sum of £305 16/6 by false i pretences. The evidence showed that accused won the affection of the young j -woman coon after she arrived at Auckland from Australia in November, last year. He proposed marriage, was accepted, _nd induced Miss Ley to entrust him with every penny she possessed —the saving- of her lifetime—the young woman believing him to be a man of some means, and unmarried. According to her story, he has, so far, returned only £1 of the money with which she parted in the hope that it would ensure their future happiness. Accused, who was I represented by Mr. Schramm, pleaded 1 not guilty, reserved „i_ defence, and was | committed to the Supreme Court for trial jat the next criminal sitting, bail being j allowed in a surety of £500. j PASSED OFF WIFE AS SISTER. | Florence Ruby Ley, waitress, a young j woman of some personal attractiveness, still in her twenties, said she usually resided with her parents at 75 Canbejira . Road, Randwick, Sydney. In NovemWr, 11)22, with a friend named Evelyn Horder, she left Sydney, and arrived at j Auckland on November 22, going to the (People's Palace to board. It was there, soon after her arrival, that she met acleused, who represented himself as a single man, introducing her to "Mrs. Massey," who, he said, was his sister. Since then, witness had learned that "Mrs. Massey" was accused's wife. On December 14, witness met accused in Upper Queen Street, by appointment, and he gave her a reference as to his character, signed by one Davi3. Accused then said he was in great trouble over busij ness, and he informed witness that he Jiad invested £500 in a grocery business !at Karangahape Road, and the Government had lent him £500, to help a returned soldier. If he did not find £150 jby 2 p.m. that day he would lose £500. [His sister had given him £50, he said, and he aeked witness to lend him £70. The balance of the required amount had been made for him by the editor of the ! "Herald."' Previously accused had said jhe was employed "on the 'Herald,' on the i Cable Board." His money ( £900), so n_ I said, wag on fixed deposit in the Bank of I Xew Zealand at Auckland, and he could I not have the use of it for another month. ;"On those conditions" witness agreed to jlend him £70.' Later, after the money (had changed .hands, accused said it had all been fixed up, and she had saved him £500. Next day he handed her a typewritten letter, signed "Arthur Trousan," which ran as follows: — HIS LOVELESS LIFE. Dear Miss Ley,—My experience in lire lias been mixed, but yesterday I found myself face to face with one that certalnlv made mc feel as though my life was cas"t into a "furnace of affliction." Little did I -now I would be compelled to betray my principles, which to mc was like abandoning _?.- no , nour - yet fate held out Its hands by disqualifying tho apostaey and dangerous acts of Hell. Your action yesterday waa one of the most glorious and Christian acts ,_,.L_ _ , _ iI L *„ be fou *- d ln thls m «>s* uncivilised hubbub of our so-called Christian age. However, your inner self has certainly substantiated your claims to the funaamental doctrines of fair play, and I pa> respect that will befit your kindness, which Is only an act of "one of God's chosen few.May I say you have built up a pivot In my Ufe that after oil makes my loveless lire nflamed with a longing for a good girl's I love and affections, but how can I expect I . ba . ? , ") Vn y" Every morning lam afraid to look into the reflector of my very- being I because it fills mc with the cruel knowledge lof the doings of "war," and now I find I myself a twisted wreck„of humanity that I (ills mc with horrible nnd cruel thoughts that amount to a loveless life. I You are an Australian 'continued the I letter), and Australia should be proud of such a daughter as you. Why, It almost makes mc ashamed of my own country for you are such a Heaven-sent example of the glorious name of "woman." But what can I offer such a woman, only a wretched life but thank God it's a lovely knowledge to know that I weut away to face the pangs of Hell to do my little mite to help save such a girl as you. However (ran the letter), much as I would like to, I could not I offer you such a wreck of humanity as | mine, but ever remember, dear girl, yon must have every atom of mv love and affection, and. in conclusion, I wnnt to mention tbnt I will never forget you, and 1 I only want to live now to give you all the ' pleasure nnd sunshine I can, and I woulit gladly give the remainder of my life to make your life a "ball of happfness." I remain, your ever grateful and true friend, (signed) Arthur Trousan. DECIDED TO MARRY HIM. Continuing her story, _Hsb Ley said she accepted accused's proposal of marriage immediately afterwards. On December 1G she went to Rotorua and took a position. When he arrived at Rotorua on December 22, accused said he had an appointment on the "Sydney Morning Herald" cable staff, and she advised him to take it. They both j returned to Auckland on December 30, | and went to stay at a private hotel in , Eden Terrace. It was then that another (appeal for money was made, and on 'January 2 she gave him £12 with which Ito pay his solicitor. Four days later j she wrote a letter (at accused's dictation) to the manager of the Govern|ment Savings Bank at Randwick, asking that her money be sent to Auckland. It I was agreed that accused should take j £ 150 when the money arrived, and | witness left for Sydney. The total sum ; forwarded to accused in Auckland was | £225 10/3. When accused followed her to Australia, arriving at Sydney on January 24, he said he had not" paid ! £20 to Miss Cousins as witness had asked him to do (witness having borrowed it). "What about the re- ; mainder of my money'" asked witness, 'and accused then replied: "After I had j fixed up all my business I had £00 iover, and I left it with my solicitor to ! pay any little debts which might come iin from the business." During his stay in Sydney, witness introduced accused Ito her friends and family as her prospective husband. He said he was working at the "Sydney Morning Herald." An I urgent telegram called her to the railway station on February 14, when ! I accused was leaving for Melbourne, but she did not see him go. Accused knew before he left Sydney that she had worked years to save the money. He 'said: "My word, if you can save all | that money you will be able to save i mine!" ■ In a statement to the police, accused admitted having received the money, but said he did so without criminal intent. He was willing to make restitution. Evidence was called to show that he had never been in the employ of the "Herald." Depositions were al__ taken regarding charges of obtaining £12 from Annie Cousins, by misrepresenting to her that Florrie Ley had sent him to obtain the amount on her behalf, and that he did obtain from Evelyn Horder the sum of £4, by misrepresenting to her that the money was for Florrie Ley. ; Accused also reserved his defence on j these charges, being committed for trial.

Dear Miss Ley,—My experience in lire lias been mixed, but yesterday I found myself face to face with one that certalnlv made mc feel as though my life was cas"t into a "furnace of affliction." Little did I know I would be compelled to betray my principles, which to mc was like abandoning _?.- no , nour - yet fate held out Its hands by disqualifying tho apostacy and dangerous acts of Hell. Your action yesterday waa one of the most glorious and Christian acts ,_,.L_ _ , _ iI L *„ be fou *- d ln thls m «>s* uncivilised hubbub of our so-called Christian age. However, your inner self has certainly substantiated your claims to the funaamental doctrines of fair play, and I pa> respect that will befit your kindness, which Is only an act of "one of God's chosen few.May 1 say you have built up a pivot In my Ufe that after oil makes my loveless lire nflamed with a longing for a good girl's love and affections, but how can I expect that? "Why." Every morning I am afraid to look into the reflector of my very- being because it fills mc with the cruel knowledge of the doings of "war," and now I find myself a twisted wreck,of humanity that fills mc with horrible nnd cruel thoughts that amount to a loveless life. You are an Australian (continued the letter), nnd Australia should be proud of such a daughter as you. Why, It almost makes mc ashamed of my own country for you are such a Heaven-sent example of the glorious name of "woman." But what can I offer such a woman, only a wretched life but thank God it's a lovely knowledge to know that I weut away to face the pangs of Hell to do my little mite to help save such a girl as you. However (ran the letter), much as I would like to, I could not offer you such a wreck of humanity as mine, but ever remember, dear girl, you must have every atom of mv love and affection, and. in conclusion, i wnnt to mention tbnt I will never forget you, and 1 only want to live now to give you all the pleasure nnd sunshine I can, and I woulit gladly give the remainder of my life to make your life a "ball of happfness." I remain, your ever grateful and true friend, (signed) Arthur Trousan.