HOTEL DIRECTOR DUPED

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 226, 20 June 1936, Page 22

HOTEL DIRECTOR DUPED

Swindling Couple’s Frauds i

Declaring that there was no limit to human credulity, the Recorder at Brighton Quartci Sessions recently passed sentences of penal servitude on • a man and wife for hotel frauds, in which amazing claims to a gigantic fortune played i prominent part. Notes said to have >een written by the Governor of the Bank of England and the Home Secretary were mentioned during the trial, and it was also stated that the couple bad made wills leaving a director of the hotel £2,000,000 and £1,000.000 for administering the will. Sitting in the dock with bowed head was Mrs. Louisa Robertson, aged 41. who was alleged to have posed as the heiress to millions. Beside her, still protesting that he believed her story, was her husband. John Robertson, aged 41, a former clerk. They were accused of obtaining by false pretences food valued at £197 from th.. Regency House Private Hotel < Brighton). Limited, between June 14. 1935, and February 27 this year. They were further charged ’ith obtaining by false pretences credit for board and lodging valued at £517. The husband .lone was also accused of obtaining credit for board and lodgings valued at £l6 between June 4 and June 11, 1935.

Mr. Erie Neve, prosecuting, declared that their imposture was “as colossal a piece of fraudulent impertinence as one could come across.” Mr. and Mrs. Robertson took rooms at the hotel for themselves, two children, a blind sister, and subsequently a Mrs. Sibley. They agreed to pay £l5/15/- a week, plus an extra sum for Mrs. Sibley. During their eight months’ stay, however, they did not pay a farthing for their food, because they lulled Mr. Blaxland, a director of the hotel, into believing that they were coming into a fabulous sum out of which the bill would be paid. The fortune was said to have been left by Mrs. Robertson’s uncle, and comprised estates in the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man. Belfast and Dublin.

On the strength of the funds "about to burst upon them,” they arranged a celebration dinner at the Savoy Hotel, London, at which the Home Secretary and Mr. Montague Norman. Governor of the Bank of England, were to be guests. Notes signed "Monty” and “H. 5. were shown to Mr. Blaxland. "Monty.” Mrs. Robertson pretended, was the signature of Mr. Montague Norman. "H.S.” was supposed to represent “Home Secretary.”

One letter shown to Mr. Blaxland and purporting to come from Mr. Montagu Norman, contained a proposal to “broach a bottle of Veuve Cliquot 1904 I celebrate the windfall.” "It may

astonish the jury that this story should have been believed.” declared Mr. Neve. "But when the prospect of great wealth is dangled before the eyes of a person it usually has the effect of extending bis credulity beyond all normal bounds.”

George Blaxland. a director ot the hotel, told the Court that he was given to understand that nothing must be said about the Robertson's alleged estate. It had to be kept a secret because the money coming was so colossal that Mr. and Mrs. Robertson would have no oeii'-i were it to >ecome

known. Toward the eml of last year Mrs. Robertson fell ill. and he saw each make a will. The last paragraph in each will stated:—

“I also' authorise M and Mrs. George Blaxland to deduct the sum of £2.000,000 for their own personal use. and a further £1.000.000 if required for financing the arrangements as set oul above." Another paragraph was:—

I bequeath unto my wife the whole of the assets reverting t me, that is everything—land and bouse property or the furniture, gold, silver, jewellery, cash in the banks, and investments in South Africa. India, South America, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, Belfast and Dublin, of which is coming to me by gifts from my said wife, she being the sole beneficiary of the estate at present being wound up by Mr. Martineau. Mr. Bailhache and the Governor of the Bank of England. .Mr. I’ensotti, defending: Do you honestly say you believed this story, of a £3.000,000 gift by somebodv you bad known only a few months? Mr. Blaxland: Yes. We were very fond of thim. They were very quiet and homely people and they did not drink or smoke. We really did have faith in them. Mr. Blaxla d added that he had been in business as an hotel proprietor t’o 17 years, but he was not surprised when the Robertsons gave him an 1.0. U. for £200.000 in addition to the £3.000.000.

Evidence was-also given that the party stayed at a Bloomsbury hotel and ran up a bill, of which £ll4 was outstanding. Robertson, in evidence, declared that he still believed his wifs was coming into this vast sum of money from her uncle. Mr. Neve: Have you any money yourself?—No, except six shillings. lias your wife any i oney?—Not in he. present position. Detective-Sergeant W. Clinch alleged that on the way o the police station in a police car Mrs. Robertson turned to her husband and said, “I will accept full responsibility.”