POSE AS MARQUIS

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 March 1933, Page 3

POSE AS MARQUIS

ROMANCE FROM ROMFORD

LONDON, January 1!)

Paul de ('haumont. 27, a pianist, who was alleged io have posed as the Marquis de Chaumont and to have said that he had been invited to stay with the .King on the Royal yacht Britannia al ('owes, appeared before M >•. IJnhiiitii Gregory. K. 0.. the Common Ge'-jeanl. at the Old Bailey, yesterday.

He wtts indicted on counts of obtaining £2(O by false pretences in July, pej2. from Miss Oriana Juanita Mary Rose and with fraudulently converting C492/17/6 to hi 1 ; own use. Mr. Euslme Fulton, prosecuting, said that in June last Miss Rose, an elderly lady,' was introduced to de Chau-

mom, who called himself the Marquis de Chaumont.

He discussed with Miss Rose musical matters in which she was interested ami he said that he himself wanted to give a recital. He told her that ■i castle iu France would come to him on the death of his uncle. He also said that his grandmother had left an amount, of valuable ancient, jewellery, but unfortunately it. was then in pawn. He said however, that it would be easy to get it out, and that if she would lend him £2OO he would give her jewellery as surety. They agreed to open a joint account, in their names.

•'ln point of fact.” said Mr. Fulton, “it did not go into that account, but into the private account of the defendant, and was immediately spent by him. Later, said Mr. Fulton, de Chaumont said he wanted to start a dressmaker’s business in London. He wanted Miss Rose, to join him in the business. She

thought it was an attractive transaction, and drew out £5OO from her bank and handed it in notes to de Chaumont.

When, at a later date. Miss Rose insisted on going to the bank, she discovered that the stories de Chaumont told her were absolutely lies, and that the money had been spent on his personal use.

Evidence was given that de Chaumont was the son of parents named Skinner, and that he was born at Romford.

Giving evidence, prisoner said Miss Rose gave him £5OO with which to open a dress-making establishment, but Mr. Laurence Cowen suggested that he should carry on with his musicaal studies. He paid the £5OO to his own account. De Chaumont was found guilty on both counts and was sentenced to twelve months’ hard labour.