MILLIONAIRE'S SON IN GAOL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14691, 27 May 1911, Page 2 (Supplement)

MILLIONAIRE'S SON IN GAOL.

, OKHREE WEEKS IN PRISON AS 'i r .VAGRANT!.

'.^liusces ted- and sentenced aa a vagrant, the son of an American millionaire has just been released from St. GSllea Prison, Bras- j selfl, after serving 20 days of a sentence of jtwo years' imprisonment. Tho victim of this remarkable mistake.on tho part oftho •Belgian. authorities is Mr, Ralph Brandreth, whoso father ia-senior partner in a New York-firm. Mr. Brandreth's troubles -were duo to-iemporary lack of money and the abeenco of papers- of identification which every person must possess i$ Belgium in order to avoid the possibility of arrest iaa

a auspicious person-or a vagrant. Ho was stopping.at iv Brussels hotel with a. friend. When ho informed tho hotel-keeper that he had no monoy loft, and asked permission to remain in tho hotel, until ho received remittances from; Now York, the hotel proprietor concluded that Mr. Brandreth wag an impostor, and complained to tho police, Mr. Brandreth was interrogated by tho police, and having no passport or other papers he was arrested on charges of theft and vagrancy. After a few days' detention ho was given a hurried hearing and sentenced to two years' imprisonment. Meanwhile tho Belgian authorities tried to verify Mr. Brandreth'a statements regarding his identity, and his position in America aa a man of means. It was not until tho police received news from New York which satisfied them that they found they had mado a mistake. Mr. Brandreth endured his imprisonment with remarkable cheerfulness. Ho was extremely angry when informed that he had been condemned as' vagrant, but afterwards tho humour of tho situation appealed to him. Ho was very well treated in prison, and, on tho assurance of M. Reselard, his lawyer, that his release would ; not bo long delayed ho regarded the matter • largely as -a joke. " Tho New York authori- | ties could have saved Mr. Brandreth from ' nearly three weeks' imprisonment," said M. i Bovolajpd, "had they jfeapanded promptly 'to tho inquiries.of tit© Belgian police." Mr. ; Brandrpth has telegraphed to his wife that ho is returning to Now York; Meanwhile 'he has started an a<ition' for defamation- * a l g3ic?t\thjj ... , . .+* —, • >