MONTE CARLO TRUNK MYSTERY

Evening Star, Issue 19409, 18 November 1926, Page 9

MONTE CARLO TRUNK MYSTERY

GAY BUTTERFLY AND HER DOINGS HOW AH ADELAIDE RAILWAY GANDER BECAME A PEER The (loath nt Adelaide of Sir James Stephen Goold, Bart., not only recalls a great romance of the peerage, but also the singular train of events that led to his assumption of the title. In this Scotland Yard men played a prominent part, though. the French detectives received most of the credit. For many years the late baronet worked as a railway ganger at Gladstone. South Australia,-and was in fact “ Sir James ” for fourteen years before his identity was discovered. The world-wide publicity given to the arrest of his brother, Vere Goold, in connection with the Monte Carlo trunk mystery established that James, the railway ganger, was heir to the title. Fortune smiles quoerly upon some people, and in the case of Sir James Stephen Goold his “luck” was more showy than real. For years ho worked as a ganger on the railway. His father had migrated from England many years before. Ho had heard talk that “ if everybody had their rights there should be a title in the family.” Indeed, Vere, the brother of James, who loft Australia and adopted a life of spectacular adventure, had actually sometimes called himself “Sir Vere.” In. 1803 the holder of Hie barony died in England, and it was assumed the title was extinct. Early in 1907 Uncle Vere had turned up at Adelaide with a dashing young wife, and had related wonderful tales of his groat fortune and importance. His real business in life was that of an adventurer and gambler. His skill at cards was almo'/t, uncanny, and the great casinos of, the world knew him well. Unscrupulous, ho was not above robbing some of the ladies he encountered; talk of love, at which he shone v«ry well, interested the fair creatures. Many lost their jewels and their reputation through their association with handsome and showy Vefie Goold. THE EVIL GENIUS. Mrs Vere Goold was a woman who passed as a fine-looking blondo at thefirst inspection. Touched, as far as her steel-like nature could be touched, by the ardent wooing of Vere, she capitulated. He had intended to rob and desert her. But there was a dramatic moment when she revealed she, too was.in the “profession”; that she felt an admiration for the talents of the showy gentleman; and suggested that they should fcneeforth hunt as a couple legally joined, as it might prove more profitable. This was the woman that arrived at Gladstone to scan somewhat contemptuously a typical Australian home and homely brother James. “A RICH FOOL.” It was, of course, obvious that the visit wonft prove a failure. By some means they raised funds to get to Sydney. There the old game was played again, and it would seem with success; the husband gambled, and the wife acted as “decoy.” Soon they were off to Europe, and settled down in Paris to batten upon the American and English tourists. * There came a stroke of luck, as it seemed, although Fate turned the trick in sinister fashion. They stumbled across a “rich fool,” as the wife described her—Madame Levine, a Swedish lady who had come into fortune. It was really all so easy to those experienced swindlers. Madame was inexperienced, eager to see life, and,, tired of widowhood, was looking for a husband. Vere Goold hinted broadly that ho was of aristocratic blood, talked of his estates in England, and of his wealthy relatives. The wife became the confidante of the blondo widow, made suggestions as to dress, promised to find influential friends, and hinted at suitors. All went merry as the marriage bells that sounded already in imagination. In October it was suggested that the trio should leave for Monte Ca#lo. But there must be preparations. Rich jewels must ho purchased to deck the expectant bride; the wardrobe replenished; nothing left undone to give the impression of wealth and birth. And always Vere Goold and his wife received huge plunder for the commissions they executed for Madame Levine, who called them “ my very dearest friends.” Still, with Swedish carefulness, madame hung back at times, and grew frightened at the sums she had spent. Growing impatient, the Gookls decided to seize all she had—money, jewels, clothes, and trinkets—and to decamp. “SHE MUST DIE.” By a ruse they succeeded in getting her out of the way on a false errand. Now was the time, and with feverish haste they packed her valuables in seven huge .trunks. By a mischance tiio woman returned too soon, Vere, with smooth words, was hastening to explain the awkward situation, when his wife, in a sudden spasm believed to be half compounded of jealousy, dropped the mask and assailed the dupe with hitter words. In vain Vere interposed too late. The adventuress shone forth as the hard mercenary and the “woman scorned”— for this was her defence at her subsequent trial. According to the confession made later, Mrs Goold struck the first blow. A second followed, a short axe being used. Then with his long white hands Vere strangled the struggling, shrieking woman; for far down in the bottom of the house tire concierge reported afterwards hearing “ one long wailing scream.” Tlie deed was done. How dispose of tho body? That was the problem. But a few months before that a Saratoga trunk, fished from Lake Como, had brought to light tho hideous crime of Charlton, the American who had slain his young bride on a honeynloon tour. THE GHASTLY INCUBUS. Tho trunk! Doubtless the idea of Charlton now occurred to the pair- as they discussed ways and means of getting rid of tho incubus—that witness of their crime. Tho wife, more fiendish than her mate, “ hacked and cut ami chopped until the body was fitted into the trunk.” The guilty pair made their way to the railway station, and took train to Marseilles. On arriving there they deposited it in the cloak room and fled to Paris. Suspicion aroused by ' the effluvia emanating from tho trunk led to its being opened. It was not long before the hue and cry was after Mr and Mrs Vere Goold, and their arrest was soon effected. The world-wide publicity of his ghastly murder concentrated attention upon the identity of Vere Goold. Who was_ he? What _ station in life his family? By_a twist of Fortune’s wheel the information reached a firm of solicitors, who established that James Goold, elder brother of the murderer, was the actual heir to a barony that had seemed extinct. While Vere languished in a prison cell James assumed the title. THE END OF THE ROAD. s It was clearly • proved at the" trial that Mrs Goold was the instigating party to the murder, struck the first blow, and cut up the victim. She was sentenced to death, but tho sentence was commuted to penal servitude for life. Vere Goold, who testified against his wife and acted a somewhat ignoble part, was ordered to be detained in rigorous confinement for “the term of his natural years.” She crushing rigors of solitary oon-

finement quietly undermined his constitution, lie fell into deep melancholy, refused to eat, and, on the verge, of what is significantly termed " gaol madness," died in the second year of his imprisonment. Seven years later a haggard and aged woman died in prison. It was Mrs Goold, who made a full confession of her crime to a priest before the end came. ♦