LIKED HIS VOICE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23145, 17 September 1938, Page 2 (Supplement)

LIKED HIS VOICE

Girl Secretary Lends Money to a Handsome Stranger

IN the prosaic atmosphere of a London police court, a girl secretary heard disclosed the story of her association with an ex-Royal Air Force Officer, who, it was stated, was " not unlike Rudolph Valentino." But since their first romantic meeting the girl's affection had changed to disillusionment, and she saw the man she "once loved, Michael William Charles Howard, aged 41, company representative, standing in the dock at Ealing accused of incurring a debt of £9O from her by means of fraud.

MR. L. B. DENNIS, who prosecuted for the girl, Miss Shelagh Gertrude Kyan, of Ealing, asked that, "in the interests of justice," her name should not be disclosed. "This is not a case of blackmail, and we think the name must be given," replied the chairman. Miss Kyan told the Court that Howard telephoned her in January: "As ho sounded so nice on the telephone I arranged to meet him," Miss Kyan added. "Ho gave the name of Michael Jackson, of Foxborough Road, Balham." She started to lend him money in March, when he told her he "had not a bean." He next told her, she said, that he was trying to raise money from the trustees of his son. He asked her to advance him £IOO to buy a seat in an outside broker's firm in the<City. Became Suspicious When she refused, he more or less suggested that it was her fault ho was not making any money because she would not help him. She then loaned him £9O. Subsequently she became suspicious, and discovered that the address of the City firm was fictitious.

about using it in a firm, and he told" her lie was going to gamble with it : on the Stock Exchange. Jn reply to Mr. Dennis, Howard re. vealed that he was a married man. •• Was not it rather despicable to borrow money from a woman? —It was offered me in such a way that it was very difficult for me to refuse, because I was hard up. "Warning to Girls" Mr. Rowden, addressing the magia. trates suggested that Miss Kyan went* out of her way to attract Howard. In' looks he was not nnlike that famous film star, Rudolph Valentino. The woman had been a fool, and had been taught a lesson. "This sort of case should be a warn-; ing to other girls," he declared. "If she had a good Victorian- father living she would have had a jolly good hiding." /j After Howard had been found guilty, Detective Groom revealed that he was educated at a yniversity, but would not disclose the name of it. During the war he served with the Honourable Artillery Company, and obtained a commission in the Royal Air Force. Wheu he took up business, an Italian bank failed, and his' Italian partner absconded to America, leaving him with liabilities of £17,000. Howard was sentenced to a month'* hard labour. /

Mr. Dennis: You were on quite friendly terms? —Yes; I liked hira very much, and was extremely sorry for him. He always told me how lonely he was; that he had no friends, and that he had lost a lot of money. I believed him. Mr. A. J. Itowden, defending: Do you usually go out with people who telephone you and knock up an acquaintance that way?— No. This was the first time. At the second time of going out you gave him £lO? —No, I loaned him £5. You are at an age when you feel any man's company is better than none?— No. Paid Expenses Miss Kyan agreed that she had been to " Southsea and Eastbourue with Howard and that she paid the expenses. When they were at Eastbourne he became intoxicated, and on going to his pocket to get her railway ticket, she found a money order receipt made out to a Mrs. Howard at Balhain. Howard told her that this person was his son's aunt. Mr. Rowden: Were you sending him money in the hope of keeping his affection?— No. I believed he was hard up. Were yon in love with him? —In the beginning, yes. When did you cease ? —When he went on continually asking for money. I don't think he was in love with me. Whose suggestion was it that he went to stay at your house?—He kept telling mo how lonely he was. Did you tell him that you could afford to place £SOO at his disposal if he would go abroad with you?— No. Did you write letters to Cornwall offering him money?—l said I would help him. I was sorry for him. "Woman Scorned" Detective Groom stated that, when arrested, Howard said to him: "This is a case of the woman scorned. I have been an ass, but it is wonderful what ono will do for money after one has seen better times." Howard, in evidence, told the Court ho was given Miss Kyan's telephone number. He phoned her, and they went out together. From time to time she loaned him money. It was offered quite freely and without his asking for it. At Eastbourne she offered him £IOO, and ho thought the £9O was part of that sum. There was nothing said