WALTER'S WINNING WAY.

NZ Truth, Issue 71, 27 October 1906, Page 3

WALTER'S WINNING WAY.

Victimising Gentle Annie. A Whisperer Committed for Trial. A somewhat remarkable yarn was told at the Christchurchi Police Court this week m a false pretences case, and if the woman's story is correct it shows how, femininity can be duped by plausible adventurers. It seems easy, but there is generally a day of reckoning. The girl m this case is Annie- Campbell; ' who is aged 24, and hails from the South. The accused is a chap named Walter Evans, or Williams, and he was charged that between the Ist March and the 30-th of September, 1906, at Christchurch, he did obtain £74 m all from the alleged victim by a certain false pretence, to wit, that he falsely represented that he was obtaining for her a sum of money that had been bequeathed to her by one McDuff, of America. Chief Detective Chrystal conducted the case for the Crown, Mr Hoban represenjting the accused, who had been out on ba-iL ■■•' : ' .•■■"■-■■■ ■ '••-■ '

Annie Campbell, a neatly- dressed young woman^ m the course of her evidence, said* thai her parents lived at 'the ; ' Blue Spur, near Lawrence. She ' arrived at Christchurch, and staiyed at Montreal-street for about a fortnight. After about a week she made the acquaintance of the prisoner. She met him one evening at a.bout 7 p.m. and he handed her 1 a 2ard on which was written "Mr Williamsi Enquiry, Christchurch." Handed the card back to him, and he asked her to stop for a few minutes as he had something important to say to her. Asked her if she had any relations m England or Scotland, and finally m America. Mentioned the names of several people m the land of the Yank, including that of one McDuS. Evahs said that that was the name of the gentleman he wished to speak to her about. He : asked her several questions about' McD'uft, including how long He had been m Maoriland, as well as other matters. Evans then said :i that the maii'-had been DEAD FOR OVER MONTHS. The information : was then vouchsafed by th.3 defendant that Old Lay On had left her considerable property. He asked her for a photograph of herself, and a specimen of her handwriting. He required, these for the purposes of identification. He said that he belonged .to a firm m Christchurch, which had been looking for and advertising for her for some time. Shs sent, to Dunedin for her photo and received it on the following Saturday, giving; it 'to hint m the evening. A specimen of her handwriting was also given him. Five specimens of her photo were handed the accused. He said the pictures were to be taken to the office m Hereford-street, and that subsequently they would be SENT TO AMERICA. Witness made an appointment with Evans for the Sunday evening following; and he told her that they were quite satisfied with the photo and the handwriting, but that there would be

I Some exes. They wanted three guineas at once ; one guinea for the N.Z. Government stamp, and two guineas for the American. Didn't give it to him at once, but handed it over m about two days time. Next | met him a few days later by appointment, when Evans again said the office was quite satisfied, and that she'd know the result m a few' days. Told her that he had , sent one of her photos to the States, and als 0 her handwriting. Nothing else was mentioned, but he made yet another appointment for next day. He then said that they would have jo send some cables to America and that she would have to pay for that. So he asked for ANOTHER THREE GUINEAS. This amount she handed over, having sent to Dunedin and borrowed it from her sister. The next time she met him was as the result of a letter she received from him. That meeting took place ou the East' Belt at 7 p.m. She hadn't got that letter ; she gave it back to Evans, who always asked her to give him back his letters. When they met at the East Belt Evans remarked that several other things had to be paid for, m- I eluding cables. Fully fifteen letters had been received from Evans by her, all of which she had returned "to him at his request with the exception of three which she retained. These were dated July 28, Sept. 12, and Sept. 26, and they were all addressed to "Dear Annie," and each one made an appointment. The curious thing about them was that the accused didn't sign | his own name to the missives, merely putting "1.Q." at the bottom, or the top. He had told the girl that this meant "Inquiry." Precisely • he was inquiring if she was COMING OUT AT NIGHT! Continuing, witness said she had (received a number of money telegrams from her father, amounting m ali to £74, but she had received more per letter. Gave all these amounts as she received them to the accuseds They were for different things, all m connection with the property he -.had previously told her had been left her by the descendant of Mcßeth's mochamumus. In September last witness went to Mr Bishop, solicitor, because accused had been putting her off. saying the business would be settled at any time. She wanted to fasten the settlement, and thait was why she consulted a lawyer. The accused told her thai, the value of the estate was between SIX AND SEVEN THOUSAND POUNDS. j In answer to Mr Hoban, the witness said that- her parents were both living, as were two sisters and two brothers. She thought she was entitled to all this, property for herself alone. She had been away from her father and mother for 10 months, and had been toiling for Mr Toomer, a boot manufacturer. Mrs Toomer allowed her to go out any time she liked. At Dunedin she worked for Mrs Kinn;. The reason why she left Dunedin wasn't because she was involved m some trouble. Will you swear that ■?— Yes, but there was likely to be some trouble.

You were mixed up m some trouble, then ?— Yes. Between a man and his wife ?—lt was. And didn't you think discretion the : better part of valor and you left ? — Tbere wouldn't be much difference wherever I was. And do you mean to tell the Court that the only introduction you had' to the accused was simply a business card he handed to you ?— That is so. . And you also say that although this was a business transaction you allowed him to write letters calling you "Dear Annie" ?— Well, I couldn't prevent it. So it was "dear Annie" this and that all the time ?— Not always. Didn't you take nice walks out together ?— Once or twice I walked with him. This wasn't a purely business speculation, then ; how long have , you been keeping company with him ?— I have never kept company with him. I kept appointments which were made on business. Didn't you go , through other than the main streets of a night time when you met him ?— Very rarely ; he used to see me to the gate. I saw him m the daytime as well as after dark. Did the accused not treat you very kindly and sometimes shout cigarettes for you ?— I have never smoked a cigarette m my life. Did you make any attempt to find his office ?.— I went into Hereford* street but couldn't find it. Did your father ever know what he was sending you money for ?— Yes, I told him ; he knew all about it. Yet you were to get all McDuff's money, and he and the rest of your family were to get none ! Chas. Treweek, accountant m the Telegraph Office, Christchurch, gave evidence «is v to the money telegrams sent; to the prosecutrix from Lawrence,, and he was followed by W. B. D. Bishop, solicitor, who had been interviewed by Miss Campbell m regard to the matter before the Court. Saw her speaking to the accused on the following day IN CATHEDRAL SQUARE. A question put by Detective Chrystal as to her business with the witness was disallowed. Detective A. Ward said that on October 9. last he held a warrant for a maa cailea Williams, and on that date he saw accused m Worcester-street. Asked Him if he knew a girl named Campbell. He replied m the negative Witness said "She lives at 66 Tiram-street, Linwood, and works for Mr Toomei boot manufacturer. He replied 'I don't know her." Told him that he answered the description of a man who told Miss Campbell that his name was Williams, and who had obtained several suras of money from her on the representation that he was obtaining money for her from America. He again denied knowledge of the lady, and said he got no money from her. Took him to Linwood to sec Miss. Campbell, and SHE IDENTIFIED HIM as the man with whom she had had dealings. Then r he arrested the man. After that accused again said he had gat nothing from the woman. Took him home to his place at St. Alban's, and on searching his box, he found Miss Campbell's photo, and a notebook containing addresses of persons living abroad. There was also a letter that had evidently been addressed to a Miss Leicister, alluding to several thousands of pounds due to her. Witness couldn't say whether the accused wrote it, but at any rate it was found m his possession. This was all the evidence, and Mr Hoban asked if there was sufficient on which -to commit for trial. Mr Bishop, S.M., said there undoubtedly was, and he intended committing. He allowed the accused out on bail, himself m £70 and one recognisance m £70. Bail was forthcoming, and accused will face a judge m three weeks' time.