"ROMANCE."

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 120, 24 May 1938, Page 5

"ROMANCE."

CONFIDENCE TRICK. SEABOARD COURTSHIP. DANISH GIRL VICTIMISED. "This was a despicable crime, having all the hallmarks of confluence men who travel on tourist ships and batten on women travelling alone." said Detec-tive-Sergeant Mcllugli in the Police Court yesterday afternoon, referring to Hugh Alexander Dalryniple. aged .'i4. described as an accountant, who pleaded guilty to a charge of obtaining from a young woman £40 by falsely representing that he was a widower, and that he would marrv her at Kotorua on or about April 27.

Mr. McHugli said the complainant ivas a native of Denmark and left I.onlon by tlie Narkunda 011 February 4 on 1 world tour. She was travelling alone ind accused introduced himself after the ship left London. Accused proposed marriage on February 8, said Mr. McHugli, and the girl told him she would give her answer at Colombo. At that port she agreed to marry him. He told her he was a son of Lord Dalrvmple, and showed her passages in '"Who's Who" relating to "his family." He told complainant he had £2000 in shares at Madras, a letter of credit in Melbourne for £100, and said he knew influential people in Australia through whom he could get a good position. He also told her that a clergy, man friend at Colombo would marry them. Accused was travelling on a through ticket to Auckland, and it was arranged that they would leave the ship at Colombo and continue to Auckland Accused borrowed £16 and 340 dollar* from her at Colombo, this to be use<3 in connection with their marriage Accused, however, put off the marriage by the pretext that complainant had not been long enough at Colombo to marry. The only tilings that the girl got out of the money was a cheap ring and a bangle worth a few shillings. Cable to New York. Accused sailed from Colombo, for Auckland, on March 5, continued Mr. McHugh. The gi/1' sailed at the same time for Australia, on another boat. She arrived at Auckland 011 March 12, with hardly any money. She asked accused for some money. He had none, but suggested that she should cable New York, to her uncle, for 250 dollars. She reluctantly agreed, and accused prepared the cable'and sent it. after altering it to read 300 dollars. This money arrived on April 20. While waiting for this money accused tried to persuade the girl

to sell the balance of her world's tour ticket. Dairy m pie took po?»=efsion of the money when it arrived, and paid their board account and other debt--. He pave complainant £•">. and banked £40 in his own name. That | ni.irlit he left for Well'iijiton. arransrin™ to meet com- I plainaiit on April 24 at Rofnrua. an 1 I ■narrr l'or. Put he l<>ft for Sydney on April 2!>. In the meanti-ii" cn'vp'ainant went to the p>-!i< e, ard P.ilrymple was ] arrested in Sydney. I ast week he was -xt'*p.ditrd to Auckland. Mr. McHujrh said accused, who was a married man with two younji children in Scotland, had no means whatever. His wife and family were supported by her parents. Asked if he had anything to say. Dalrymple said: "I apologise to her. I have some friends who will help me. if you can give me a suspended sentence." Mr. W. R. McKean. S.M.: I'm afraid I can't Rive you the opportunity. Dalrymple was sentenced to three months' hard labour.