A CONFIDENCE STORY

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 123, 25 May 1923, Page 11

A CONFIDENCE STORY

ACCUSED DENIES CRIMINAL INTENT.

(BY TELIGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) AUCKLAND, 24th May.

A strange story of how a single woman •parted with her savings to a married man, who sh» had been led to believe was single, was told in the Police Court to-day, when Arthur Trouson was charged with having obtained several sums of money, totalling over £300, by false pretence*

Florence Ruby Ley, a waitress, gave evidence that she arrived from Sydney last November and became acquainted with the accused, who was boarding at the Same house. He introduced as his sister a woman ■ she now ltnew as his wife. He represented that he was in a, good position, and that he had £500 in a business and £900 in a bank. On the plea that he had commitments to meet, he obtained £70 from her. He then wrote a letter of acknowledgment saying, "Your action is one of the mostglorious and Christian acts so rarely to be found in this most uncivilised hub of our so-called Christian age." He expressed undying affection, bnt regret that war injuries had left him but a wreck of humanity. After talking the letter over, accused proposed to her and she accepted him. She then returned to Sydney, prom^ing to expedite the forwarding of money she had arranged to give him. The money was sent, and when accused got to Sydney he. explained that business had absorbed it all except £60, which he had left here to meet possible debts. Subsequently he went to Melbourne, and she saw no more of him until the case was brought In a- statement to the police, accused said that he was married and had two children. He denied any criminal intent and said that he. had told the girl by way of a joke tha.t he was single Accused pleaded not guilh and was bH mK. teU °c WaS panted