A STRANGE STORY.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 314, 2 May 1866, Page 3

A STRANGE STORY.

The ' Grey River Argus' contains the following:—A criminal case, involving a rather amusing love story, was brought before the Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, and occupied the Court a cansiderable time in hearing. The culprit, a nautical young man, about twenty years of age, named John Moore, it appeared had, about six weeks ago, in Hokitika, met with a woman named Susan who is somewhat advanced in age, being about fifty-five, who had once fell desperately in love with him, and naturally feeling an interest in his appearance and wellfare, made him a present of £2B to enable him to purchase new clothes and make other arrangements to marry her. This was done; the necessary preparations were made, and the wedding day fixed. In the meantime, however, the lovers became acquainted with a young woman named Louisa O'Brien, whose appearance was more attractive in the eyes of Moore, and it was mutually arranged, with the consent of the future bride, that she should accompany the happy pair to Greyraouth, where the marriage was to take place. The party started from Hokitika last Sunjlay week, and arrived here in the Bruce on the following day; but it would seem that the voyage, altjiough short, afforded the young couple sufficient time to discover each other's charms. Ae gay Lothario forgot his former vows to thfe venerable object of his first love, and it wap agreed between him and his new love that tkey should, on arriving at Greymouth, u together. This was so far carried out, faithless lovers taking with them a box belonging to the bride expectant, containing a silver watch and chain, £4 worth of eold in nuggets, three deposits receipts on the Bank of New South Wales for £3O, and about £ls worth of ladies' wearing apparel, including the fair creature's troutseau. On landing last Monday to Rotchford's Boarding-hou*e, where they passed as man and wife, uuder the name of Connolly. Their heartless schemes were, however, doomed to be frustrated, for on the deposit receipt, which was duly endorsed, being presented for payment at the Hank by the femaleprisoner, it was discovered that although she represented herself as Susan Wise, and said she had endorsed the document she could not write. ; This probably appeared somewhat singular to the manager, who refused to cash it, but said he would send it to Hokitika for collection, and requested L<>ui<a O'Brien and her partner to call again. This of course they did not do, aud information being given to the police, the female prisoner was arrested by Sergeant Dyer in town a few days after* ards, and the male prisoner was subsequently discovered in town by Inspector Janes, most of the stolen property being found in their possession. It is almost needless to say that the case created much amusement in Court, by the foolish old victim declaring that she had loved the male nrisoner as dearly as any woman could love her husband, and various other little pleasantries on the part of the deceiver regarding the virtue of his dupe, which we netd not add. Both prisoners were committed for trial, and the 'gushing' Susan left the Court declaring that she was broken-hearted.

The " light-fingered gentry" seem to be numerous at the Grey River, since the local journal finds it necessary to have the following :' 4 We are requested to caution those attending the various places of amusement, that pocket picking has been rather prevalent lately, and it would appear that there is a regular staff of the light-fingered gentry who frequent the various concert-halls for the purpose of catching the unwary. On Monday night a man had his pockets rifled of some £lO or £l2 in Kilgour's Concert Hall, and we have heard of other similar cases having occurred at other places in Greymouth." Mr George has at length been liberated from durance vile, but is not indebted to the generosity of his persecutors, who simply confined him a" long as they had the power. The 4 Argus'of the llth inst states that—- " Yesterday, at 5 p ra., a 4 Gazette Extraordinary was published, announcing the prorogation of Parliament until to-day. Immediately thereupon the deputy of the sergeant-at-arms informed Mr George that he was released from custody. As soon as the intelligence reached the ' Argus' office, Mr Mackin non drove up in his carriage to the Parliament Houses, and conveyed Mr George back to the scene of his ordinary labors. The health of the whilom captive was drunk in champagne by every member of the 4 Argus' establishment then on the premises, by all of whom Mr George is held in deserved respect. Immediately before his incarceration, Mr George had asked for the fortnight's leave of absence allowed annually to the 4 Argus' employes, and now that he is at liberty it has been deemed just and right by the proprietary to accord to him the usual indulgence. Mr George will sail this morning for Tasmania per Black Swan." The 4 Argus' says:— 44 Now that the shock of the loss of the London has somewhat subsided it may be suggested that there is a necessity for making it compulsory upon all passenger vessels, especially steamers, to have their engine-room and all other hatches raised to a level with the main rail, and of sueh strength as may be deemed advisable. The Otago Steamship Company have, taken, the initiative, and have had all the hatches, bunker lids, &c„ of the Albion secured in the manner suggested. Other steamship owners will, no doubt, follow the example."