EX-OFFICER’S DOWNFALL

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 80, 28 December 1929, Page 27

EX-OFFICER’S DOWNFALL

DESERTED BY RUSSIAN WIFE

Having admitted that he had been guilty of fraud, an ex-naval officer, attributed his downfall to an ill-fated war marriage with a beautiful Russian aristocrat, who had to flee, from her home because of the revolution. *

The pathetic story of the broken, romance was recently related to the Glasgow Sheriff, when John William Goldie Turnbull, aged 34, was accused of embezzling £419 while acting as cashier to the City of Glasgow Society of Social Services. A solicitor who appeared on his behalf explained that Turnbull belonged to a good family, and was educated at one of the foremost schools in Glasgow.

During the war Turnbull was in the Navy, and reached the rank of paymas-ter-lieutenant. It was at Malta that the young officer married the Russian aristocrat. Probably she was a most admirable lady, commented the solicitor; but she became tired of the humdrum life in this country. She left her husband. in August, 1927, and took their two children to Germany. Mr. J. D. Strathern, who prosecuted,

told the Sheriff that he understood the wife's position whs that she wanted nothing further to do with her husband. Turnbull’s own statement was that he got Into difficulties owing to ill-health, and was discouraged at the fact that his wife had left him in these circumstances. To that he attributed his downfall.

With regard to the charge of embezzlement, Mr. Strathern explained that there were a number of collectors for the charitable society to receive contributions and lodge them In a bank. He resigned his position last August, and shortly afterwards disappeared. An audit of the books was made, and a deficiency discovered. Subscriptions received from collectors bad been appropriated, and not, put through the books. Accused was arrested in Loudon on October 1, and, when taken back to Glasgow, he admitted that the sum he was charged with embezzlement was right. Turnbull, who declared that he was anxious to repay the stolen money, was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, to date from the time of his arrest.