CLAIM FOR MONEY

Hokitika Guardian, 12 April 1933, Page 4

CLAIM FOR MONEY

DOUBLE ENGAGEMENT REVEALED

TWO WOMEN DECEIVED.

Per Press Association — Copyright J

DUNEDIN,. April 11.

The story of how! an insurance agent wh 0 was described by Magistrate Bartholomew as a “romancer and adventurer,’’ became engaged at the same time to two young -women, from one of whom he borrowed extensively, was unfolded’ in the Magistrate’s Court this morning, when Volvere Boyne Murphy proceeded against Stewart Smith, of Invercargill, claiming £39/12/6 for money lent. The original claim.was for £SO, but the amount was altered, om the application of counsel, who stated that definite proof could be put for* ward only in respect of the smaller amount. •

The parties met in Dunedin towards the end of 1931, and became engaged, Up to the time. of - which ■ the engagement was broken off she loaned hini sundry amounts, which had not been repaid. Shortly after the engagement the plaintiff met a Mr Gray, from whom she learned that Smith was already engaged to his sister-in-law. Gray then went,.to Invercargill with the two ladies, and they saw Smith. The engagement was then broken off.

After giving evidence in regard to the money loaned to the defendant, the plaintiff said: ‘ ‘He told me when he first came to Ilunedin that lie was the son of a Baronet, . and that it would be necessary in May, 1932, for him to go home to Scotland, and assume the title of “Sir,” and also to obtain a share of the of his late father. He did not state who... liis father was at the time, but later, when there was a camp of the Boys Brigade, in 1932, he told me that his father was Sir William Smith, the founder of that movement. He' also informed me that his eldest brother was Sir Horace Rockwood Smith Doreen. Smith himself would be 39 or 40 years of age. I looked up encyclopaedias, and found that Sir Horace Lockwood Smith Doreen was. horn in 1858, four years after his alleged father.”

The Magistrate said that there was positive proof of Smith’s indebtedness to the plaintiff. The evidence was sucn that lie had no : hesitation in accepting the plaintiff’s account. Judgment would he given for the plaintiff for the amount claimed, with costs £B/8/6.