A CONFIDING WOMAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15563, 21 March 1914, Page 2 (Supplement)

A CONFIDING WOMAN.

MONEY GIVEN TO AMERICAN. ALLEGATIONS OP FRAUD. Declared by the police, in their opposition to bail, to have been leading for a few weeks the life of a millionaire in a millionaire's flat in Piccadilly, John Archibald Campbell Mason, an American, was charged in London recently with obtaining from Ethel S. Lucena, a Brighton lady, a cheque for £500, by false pretences, with intent to defraud. Miss Ethel Lucena said she met Mason at a bridge dinner. She played bridge with him, and he made himself very pleasant, talking about his American experiences and friends. After many conversations she asked him to join her at a bridge party. On the following Saturday he telephoned and asked her to dine with him. She agreed, and he called and took her to his hot-el to dinner. During the dinner, the statement went on, he inquired as to her investments, and asked her to dine with him again. She did so, and he told her incident* in his past life in Paris and America, threw out hints, and said he wished to marry her. On a subsequent occasion they lunched together in a private room of an hotel, when he asked her to take a flat in town at his expense. He said lie had influential friends in town, including Lord Marcus Beresford and Mr. Pierpout Morgan. The statement continued that he made her many presents of flowers, and eventually asked her to marry him, but mentioned it would be first necessary to consult his aunt— a millionairess in America. He spoke about the trosseau, and suggested he should make some money for her by investments for that purpose. He asked her for £2000, and said he would put it in Pierpont Morgan's companies and get tips from him. She said she would see what she could do, and he made her promise to go to her banker's and see , v \6SSSISSS *»\}A, \\sM q\. K\\&\wards, when she told him site did not wish to disturb her securities and investments, he appeared upset. He told her it looked as if she thought he was a scoundrel, and perhaps the engagement had better be broken off. She became hysterical and ho came and kissed her hand, went away, and cent her flowers. He came to her again, and at last she agreed to let him have £500 to invest in Pierpont Morgan's companies for her. He then wanted to marry her next day. as she was looking so ill, but he must go to America at once on the Majestic to see his wealthy aunt on the subject, and he would cable her and return in a fortnight. When she subsequently discovered that he never went to America, and that he had not invested her money, she communicated with the police.