Man of Many Parts

Northern Advocate, 14 March 1913, Page 3

Man of Many Parts

YSTOMSHIM.' IlECOKI) OF (RIME.

THE SUBLIME TRUTH

An extraordinary history, upon either his own showing, or the police version, has fallen to the lot of a well-educated man named Charles Alfred Williams, who was sentenced to three years' penal servitude and subsequent deportation to America, for having stolen an overcoat, valued at 10s, belonging to a clerk employed a* a bookstall at Ens toil Station. Williams, who is, a man of 35, was ruady with an elaborate defence. He prefaced his remarks by handing in a large bundle of papers and documents, explaining that among them were personal letters from the editors of leading London papers and others when he was negotiating to go out to the Balkan War as correspondent. "What are these papers put in for," asked the judge. "To show whether it was feasible or possible that I would commit so contemptible a crime as to rob a boy o* his 10s overcoat, when my own cost 116 (Is," replied Williams. He added that he had arranged with a picturefilm company representing leading London firms, "whose names are synonymous with incorruptibility and integrity," and also a diamond syndicate in South Africa with which he was connected as a partner. Williams further claimed to have been connected with a leading financial in slitution up to 1593, and again in continuity of that connection down to last year. HUNDRED MILLIONS CAPITAL. "In 1902 warrants were issued in South Africa aginst a well-known dia-j r.ioud magnate and myself for buying! diamonds without a license," he added. "I was admitted to bail in £10,000 and tlie diamond magnate in .£4OOO. He escaped and forfeited his bail, bonds. I faced the music, and was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment with hard labor., The American Covernmant —I am an American —took the matter up, and we appealed to every court in the country,, but unfortunately there was no criminal appeal except on certain points. I was sent away an invalid for life to die, but I did not die. I escaped, and after travelling 6000 miles, I reached England a fugitive from justice. I

afterwards represented one of the largest firms in the world with a capital of one hundred millions. I was connected also with a branch establishment in Chancery Lane, where 1 was arrested for having escaped from prison in South Africa, and for buying £17,000 worth of diamonds. The ambassador kindly gave me his protection, but finally my appeal against extradition failed before the Lord Chief Justice. I went back. OFFICER BLOWS BRAINS OUT. "My friends in the African Parlia- i ment brought about an enquiry, and the chief of the Detective Departmentwhom I had previously impugned, i was called upon on the question ol' his motives. His answer was to blow his brains out, and 1 was released, and granted a free pardon for a crime I had never done, after serving one year and eight months —but I was sentenced for two years because I would not tell who the officers were who were involved at the time of my I escape, and who did not. give warning of my escape until forty-eight hours afterwards. After my sentence 1 returned to this country, and recommenced business, forming a company with my partner in South Africa. It is better to take you into my confidence, because it. is only the truth that can save me to-day. I have had much trouble and anxiety. My fiancee died during my absence, and---wnen I am sitting up at night 1 sometimes sedouble. I am only human, and I think I am clever, and I do things in that mood with no criminal intent. In these circumstances it has been my misfortune when at Capetown to meet all classes of criminals. "BUSINESS OF NATIONS." "In South Africa millionaires now resident in London, who bought diamonds by similar methods to what I did, had sufficient influence in Parliament to have certain laws passed which enact that the poor man mus* not buy diamonds, but a millionaire can buy millions of pounds' worth. In spite of all 1 have gone through I

am making an heroic effort to retrieve the past and hold up my head amongst honest men." In reply to a caution by counsel he said emphatically: "1 never nndr-r any circumstances tell a falsehood, though k may seem strange." He addressing the jury declared that he would speak "the sublime truth," and asserted that he was the victim of unfortunate circumstances. He said he was an American, and had been trusted by the British, Foreign, and Colonial Offices and "entrusted with the business of nations." He said that his right name was Arthur Braun. though he had passed under that of Searle. He admitted the following convictions and sentences: — 1903, North London Sessions, bound over: 190:'., Kimberley, seven years' penal servitude. Re-arrested in 1905, the witness said that he was finally released in 1907. Since then he had served the following sentences: — 1908, Middlesex Sessions, 21 months' imprisonment for stealing bags; 1910, Marborough Street, obtaining £5 false pretences, six months; 1911, London Sessions, obtaining £20 by fraud, 15 months. - Detective Hewitt said that there, were other convictions recorded against the man in South Africa, and Detective-Sergeant Seymour gave cvi- ; dence of frauds committed on poor ■ people in London. ■ The judge remarked that he had not had before him a man of worse character or worse qualities. Williams would undergo three years' penal servitude, and afterwards would be deported. .