THE PRETENDED EARL OF WILTON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10085, 21 March 1896, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE PRETENDED EARL OF WILTON.

A NEW DEVELOPMENT.

At Westminster Police Court, on January 30, the prisoner, who has doscribod himself as Adolph Beck, mine owner and promoter, of Victoria-street, was placed in tho dock for final examination, on the charge of robbing women after representations to them that he was an earl, a friend of Royalty, and tlieownor of large estates. It is said that the perpotrator of, these robberies is identical with a person who was nearly ten years ago sentenced to five years' penal servitude, in tho name of Smith, at the Central Criminal Court, for thefts of a similar character from young women. The name of Lord do Willoughby was then used by the accused. The defence have relied on the assumption that Beck is the victim of mistaken identity, and that Smith, still at large, is the real perpetrator. Mr. Sims said he should now call evidence relating to an entirely fresh case. A young lady in a black velvet mantle and large black hat and feathers gave her mime and address 011 a slip of paper, She said that she was single, and in April of last year was living in I'iirlico with a Mrs. Allen. On April 3 last the prisoner called to see Mrs. Allen.

Mr. Sims ; Have you seon him before? Witness: On sovoral occasions. Mrs. Allen was not at homo when ho called on this particular day. Ho askod to bo allowed to write a letter, and I asked him into my apartment an tho ground floor tor the purpose. I left him alone for some time to get writing materials from downstairs, and on my return ho asked me to sit down and talk to hiln, lie thou told me that ho was trying to do some good for Mrs. Allen, but that ho should like mo to be his housekeeper at St. John's Wood. Ho told mo that I should havo to dress well, wro'.o out a list of dresses, and said that ho would have me taught riding. Mr. Sims; Did he tell you what his name was ?

Witness : He told me that ho was Lord Wilton. He said that I must dress every evening for dinner, and that I must wear tailor-made walking costumes. I was to have a riding-habit, hats from Hoath's, and rings from Bond-street.

.Mr. Sims asked tho girl to look at one of the lists sworn to have been given by the prisoner to one of the earlier witnesses. The young woman said that it was identical with the one she had—since destroyed Prisoner at tho finish gave her a worthless cheque for £30—to pay for the dresses—and took away a gentleman's crested signetring which she was wearing, for a measurement of her linger. Witness a ided much of tho detail which other witnesses deposed to, as to the promise of a marquise ring, etc., to be brought later in tho day by a one-armed commissionaire. The prisoner, she added, promised to call again, but ho nover did so. Cross-examined, witness said the prisoner wrote the list of drosses in a froo hand, bub the signature Wilton was penned " backhanded." Prisoner at the time had no more hair on his face than now, but his moustache was down now—then it was pointed in a military way. (Laughter.) She had not aeon the picture of tho prisoner in an illustrated paper. Mr. Dutton produced tho sketch, remarking that it was not surprising these women fhould identity the defendant. Witness said she thought it a good likoness.

.Mr. Sheil: I should say a person might identify the prisoner in spite of that picture, but not in consequence of it. (Laughter.) Another young woman, in a blue jacket and ruby velvet hat with white aigrette, gave her namo and address privately. She poke to making prisoner's acquaintance. lie said on one occasion, " There is only one Kir! of Wilton, and 1 am tho man." Ho gave her a forged cheque on a propor cheque form (produced) for £30, and got away some of her jewellery by the " measurement" pretence already deposed to by so many young women. Ho left her aftor borrowing Z'l.

Mr. Marcus Brown, proprietor of tho Covenb Garden Hutol, said the prisoner lodged there till September, 1894, and was gnL rid of for non-payment of a bill of £300 lor board and lodging. Since ho had introduced a gold mining concession to promoters witness had got judgment against him for the amount of the debt. He (witness) had been satisfied by the transfer to him, after attachment, of a number of tho gold mining shares in Hannah's Main Reef, t'lisoner's indebtedness now to him was some £1-100. lie had lonb him (prisoner) money to go to Norway and to assist him in floating his mines. .Mr. Godfrey Chetwynd, a financial broker, of 33. Cockepur-street, doposed that in June, IS9+, prisoner called and dis cusaod business respecting a copper initio. Witness at this time occasionally paid prisoner's weekly hotel bills. Mr. Thomas Gurrin, oxperb in handwriting, of Hoi born Viaduct, gave lengthy evidence as to tlje documents put in evidence. He was of opinion that they were the handwriting of one porson. The general character of the hand was Scandinavian. Some of the writing was illegible, and much cf it was evidently disguised. Mr. Sims said that was the case for tho prosecution ; but, he proposod to prove a previous conviction. Ellas Spurrels, a pensioner from the Metropolitan police, said that in 1887 he was stationed at Hunter-street, in the E division. On May 7of that year he was at the Contral Criminal Courb, when the prisoner, in tho name of John Smith, was sentenced to live years' penal servitude for stealing earrings and money from a young woman named Louisa Leonard. Witness produced a certificate of tho conviction. Mr. Sims: The circumstances of the robbery were exacbly the same as in this case ?

Witness: Yes. Exactly. There were 17 charges gone into against tho prisoner for robbing girls. At that) time ho passed as Lord Willoughby or as Lord de VVilloughby. Witness (pointing): The prisoner is the man.

Mr. Dubton : You have retired from the force, and want to go happy to your journoy's end. Do you swear to this man— you know what i& at stake ? Witness: 1 swear to him without the shadow of a doubt. I took him into custody in Euston Square. After receiving the statutory caution the prisonor essayed to say something, but was stopped by Mr. Dutton. Mr. Sheil committed him for trial for false pretencos, larceny as a bailee, and committing larceny indwelling-houses. Mr. Dutton asked for bail, so that in the event of refusal he could go to a judge in chambers.

Mr. Slioil: You can go wherever you liko, but you will get 110 bail liore.