LUXURY BY FRAUD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21640, 4 November 1933, Page 2 (Supplement)

LUXURY BY FRAUD

TWELVE MONTHS IN GAOL PRETTY DANCER'S SCREAMS " » . 1 " "COULD NOT BE WORSE CASE" Elegantly dressed, a beautiful gi r i dancer screamed hysterically in dock at the Old Bailey, London, a few weeks ago after the judge had sentenced her to a term of imprisonment for fraud. " Don't let them take me" she cried before being carried to the cells below. An amazing story of how the girl - posed as a person of position was unfolded by the one's mouth water to see how luxur. iously this girl has been living," w' aj one of prosecuting counsel's comments. Stylishly attired in. a dress with large puff sleeves, and set off with a blue beret, Ethel Rylands, aged 21, who wag described as - a dancer, appeared ' . answer charges of obtaining credit to the extent of £1304 by false pretences from Harrods, Limited, and also defrauding jo dentist and Austin Reed Limited. ■ ' 'H.' "''K Mr. G. D. Roberts, prosecuting counsel, stated that when Miss Rylands ordered the goods from Harrods,' her only assets, apparently, were -an attractive personality and appearance, and a vivid and fertile imagination. " The case for the prosecution is,s' proceeded Mr. Roberts, " th&t she. has been living by fraud since April of this year, posing as a woman of position and as a Woman who had just inherited a large estate from her mother who had died in India." . Letters of Condolence Counsel said that Miss Rylands came from India and took rooms at Cleveland Gardens, Bayswater. She *vavintroduced to Mr. G. B. Minsh'nll, a reputable solicitor and a member of a respectable London firm. At an interview with him, she gave a circumstantial account of. how her mother, who was very wealthy, recently died in India, and i'he produced a large number of letters of condolence and newspaper cuttings, dealing with.the death of someone named Rylands. : V "" Accused said, " My mother has left a considerable fortune and my share is 119,000 rupees." She also produced a letter purporting to come from her brother, saying that the money, would be sent or he would bring it to England. Mr. Minshull actually guaranteed a bank account for the girl from which she drew £l4O or so, for which; Mr. Minshull was now responsible; Mr. Roberts .proceeded to deal with the fraud oh Harrods. Miss Rylands. he declared, gave Mr. Minshull as a reference to open a credit account. " That account," Mr. Roberts continued, " almost ' makes one's mouth yater to see how luxuriously this girl , was living." ' •> ' • • - , - • Miss Rylands ordered an ermuie coat for £156, among many other and this was later found to have been pawned. A black silver fox coat, obtained in tho same way, was pawned a fortnight after she had been arrested and was on bail. ' Fictitious Cable Message On June 12 Miss Rylands was handed her account, when she remarked, " My young brother has been killed in a motor accident in Calcutta, and, in consequence, sending my money to England has been delayed, and it will not arrive until about June 20." She told Mr. Minshull the same story, and on his suggestion - a cable of condolence was sent to " Rylands, c.o, Turf Club, Calcutta.-" Eventually, when pressed again for the money, Miss Rylands produced a cable expressing regret at delay in sending the money. Counsel added that a cable had been traced as being sent from Bournemouth to an address in Bombay. It read:— " Kitty.—Send this cable. Have paid reply: 'Rylands, .c.o. Minshull, Bedford Row. Sorry delay in posting draft. Love Paddy. Dont fail, Kitty; this is urgent. —Love, Ethel." Finally, when disclosure came, continued Mi\, Roberts, Miss Rylands told Mr. Minshull that her only potential source of income was that she knew a man in India who occasionally sent her money. Mr. Minshull asked if she had any money to , come from her mother's estate, and she said she had not. / Mr. Minshull Gives Evidence Mr. Minshull gave evidence that Mis* R viands was introduced to him by ar old client of his, who explained that lit had known her professionally in India in connection with the theatrical business. He said he had worked with her and knew she was quite all right. Referring to the man in India, to whom Rylands stated she had written, and who" it was agreed, should be called " Mr. X," Mr. Minshull stated, ' I have seen accounts and letters fr°''| ' Mr. X ' showing that she has received money from him, and I was told by her that'he,paid her passage over here. Detective-Sergeant Coleman stated that Miss Rylands arrived in England on April 7. He produced a list of debts amounting to £296, which, he asserted, the young woman had incurred beside those mentioned in the charges, borne of the creditors were small tradespeople, who could ill afford to loso their money. Replying to Mr. Derek Curtis-Ben-nett. defending counsel, witness furthe: stated that Miss Rylands was employed in film work at Elstree during 1931. Addressing the Recorder, Mr. CurtisBennett stated that Miss Rylands had been on the stage in India since she was 15. Her mother died in India this year, but the story of the legacy was untrvie. Accused's Vain Plea Speaking from the dock, Miss Rylamls stated that on the day she was arrested she was supposed to go for a film test for a job for which she might have received £75 a week. " Fhave the chance of money and to pay back, she 0 el a rod. " They have offered me the joo if I can clear myself." , . lu passing sentence of 1» months prisoument in the second division, the Recorder told accused: '< You came oiff to this country and dehbeiatel. coived Mr. Minshull, a highly rejectable solicitor, and then dcccncda credulous dentist and a lot of sn. tradespeople who could not affout part with their money. • "With insolent effrontery■ j,ou in (lured the company (Harrods), with property to the extent No kind of blame attaches J° lcl L bv v ; to Mr. Minshull, who was deco \ ; , 3 | : you. There could not bo a worse case.