TRADER AND GIRL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18197, 16 September 1922, Page 2 (Supplement)

TRADER AND GIRL.

A TRIP TO THE EAST. TALE OF MISSING JEWELS. A curious story of a retired Eastern merchant's association with a young girl who became his secretary was told at Marylebone Police Court, London, when the girl—she is only 18—was charged with stealing two rings, a wristlet watch, a tiara, a suit case, and two necklaces, valued at £200, from the Waldorf Hotel, the property of Mr. Sassoon Solomon. With the girl was charged Bob Malykort, a 22-ycar old merchant. Mr. Fox Andrews (for the prosecution) explained that Mr. Sassoon Solomon was a retired general merchant, who had traded in the East. In July, 1921, he came to England, and in the same month he made the acquaintance of the young woman, Rimmer, at Brighton. A few day later, while he was staying at the Regent Palace Hotel, she called upon him, told him she was starving, and asked for his assistance. Mr. Solomon took her into his employment, partly as his secretary and partly to iook after his small boy, who was staying with him. '* I will tell you at once," said counsel, " that there were subsequently relations between the prosecutor and Miss Runmer." On his return to the East shortly after, said Mr. Fox Andrewß, the prosecutor took her with him in the double capacity indicated, but owing to the complaints he received about her from other passengers on the voyage he sent her back to England, giving her £45 to pay her firs' -<■>'"<•• passage and 150 rupees as pocket money. A corres|.-ondence ensued between them, and earlv in May, Mr. Solomon telegraphed "to her to meet him at Marseilles, and went with her on May 9 to the Waldorf Hotel, where they occupied separate rooms, with a bathroom between. On May 13 Mr. Ro'omon took her and his son to His Ma.jestv's Theatre, but as they were about to leave the hotel Miss Rimmer'ran back and asked the chambermaid to pack her trunk and have it readv bv 8.30. During the performance at the theatre she made an excuse to go to the cloakroom, but she failed to return, and on arriving at the hotel that night Mr. Solomon, fonnd that she had gone, taking with her her luggage, a quantity of valuable jewellery, and a number of other articles. She had left behind, however, her hat . boxes, and subsequently telephoned for these to be sent to an address in Portsdown Road. Mr. Solomon took them to the address himself, and there found Miss Rimmer and the man Malykort, who was wearing a gold wristlet watch belonging to his (Mr. Solomon's) son. The whole of the missing property was handed over .' to the police. i Counsel added that in the meantinw Miss Rimmer had introduced Malykort to Mr. Solomon as her brother, which was quite untrue. Inquiries showed that Malykort engaged the room in Portsdown Road, and called at the WaMorf Hotel on the day of .the alleged robbery and! gave the chambermaid a note to give to Miss Rimmer. These facts, coupled with his possession of the- watch, led to his being charged. Mr. Solomon gave evidence in Arabia and broken English, supporting counsel's statement, and said that when he re turned to the Waldorf from the theatre he found both his own and Miss Rimmer'a loom all upset, as if a thief had been in. All the jewellery (produced) wi& mming\ ____„»___