A METEORIC “LORD”

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8654, 12 February 1914, Page 2

A METEORIC “LORD”

APPEARS IN COURT REMANDED TO HAMILTON ON FALSE PRETENCE CHARGE. The spurious “Lord luncs-Kcr, known to the police as Evelyn A ine Kidson, who was very much in Hie limelight at San Francisco recently, did not make an imposing figure in the prosaic setting of the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning, when lie was called upon to answer a charge of having attempted to commit suicide on board the Aorangi on her arrival at Wellington, and a separate charge of having obtained £8 10s from Schneidemaim 1 Bros, at Hamilton, by means of a valueless cheques for £lO. The accused pleaded guilty to both offences. The adventurous, brief career ot the ambitious young man was outlined by Chief-Detective Broberg, who stated that the accused was very well known to the polico, anti carried a number of names. He was variously known as Allan Gordon Palmer, Albert Gibbs Clifford, and Dr Innes-Ker, alias Lord limes-Kcr. He posed as a lord or a duke. In 1907 he was in Australia. and it was found that by the end of 19H he had a record of eleven convictions, comprising forgeries, false pretences and *thoft. He came to Wei-lin-gton and on November 15th, 1911, he°was charged at Auckland with attempted suicide and also with false pretences, and was sentenced to £even years’ reformative treatment. On June 14th, 1913, he was released on a probation license, and later ho came on to Wellington. In the meantime, it was alleged, he had committed false pretences at Hamilton, and information was received that he was “Wanted” for'failing to comply with tho terms of his release.

Vine got away to San Francisco by the Willochra, the chief-detective continued, and was deported from the States and put aboard the same steamer, bouad for New ZealamL He left tho boat at Tahiti and she came on without him. On January 30th he arrived at Wellington by the , Aorangi. The polioe hoard that he was coming, and Detectives Andrews and Dempsey boarded the vessel. Vine was about the ship, all sound, .shortly before she bbrthed, but when the detectives went aboard they could not find him. Eventually, after searching for an hour and a half, they discovered him in a recess which contained a lot of rubbish, together with tins of disinfectant and poisonous substances. His appearance indicated that he had taken some of the poison; the front of his coat and vest were smothered with it. Vino was taken to tho police station, where he was attended by Dr Henry, and he was removed afterwards to the hospital, remaining there till Tuesday last.

In Vine’s possession was found a letter addressed to the captain of the vessel, stating Hie accused’s intention to cut his own threat and jump overboard.- What ho actually did was to take disinfectant. Tho sum of £2 12s 9d was fotxud oh the accused, and the chief-detective asked that His Worship should consider an application for the medical expenses (.Bl Is) and ambulance hire (IBs) to be refunded out of this amount.

Oil the charge of attempted suicide, Mr IV. G. Riddell, SAL, convicted the accused and ordered him to come up for sentence when called upon. An order was also made for expenses £1 lls to he paid out of the money found on the accused.

11l regard to the ease of false pretences, Vine was remanded to appear at Hamilton on the 18th inst.