A GAY ADVENTURESS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11505, 10 February 1909, Page 6

A GAY ADVENTURESS.

A WELLINGTON SOCIETY THRILL.

(Per Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, this day. In the Magistrate's Court to-day, Slay Hallett; alias Curtain, alias Baker, alias Bannerman, was charged with having, on the 25th January, dbtained a sum ol £50 from Walter Qifford by means of false pretences, by representing that she was a niece of the late Sir Henry Camp, bell Baiinerman. In the couwso of • his evidence, Walter Clifford stated that ac^ cused ui-companied his party to the Wellington l-iwes. Subsequently she calletl at- the Cliib, and said she was m great difficulties. Her father bad just left enough money to pay her hotel bill, and Hhe- had to pay Ahe D.LCX und *»*ie other bills before she left for -Christchurch. Sho asked hjm to telegraph to Christchurch to ascertain her father's address. Witness replied, "Why trouble him? Can I assist ydu?" Accused replied that if he (Clifford) would lend her £50 she Avould send it back on the'following day after she had s*en„her father! Witness gave her £50. In. parting with his money he understood that accused was connected with a celehfated family m England. The licensee of the .Grand hotel stated that accused booked aoctomhiodation at his hotel m the iifttbe of Bannerman. In the course of conversation, she said she hoped it would not come out that she was Telated to Sir Henry Campbell Bannerman,' her reason being that she might attract too much notice. Accused was committed foir trial.

A Wellington correspondent writes: — Miss May Hallett, alias Baker, alias Curtain, alias the Honorable Miss ' Collard, tbe young lady — "creature," I "believe, she is called by some of her alleged victims — is to appear to-morrow morning at the Police Court to answer a charge of obtaining £50 by false pretences from Mr Walter Clifford, brother of Sir Geo. Clifford. The young lady (or "creature") seems to have had rather a gay time of it for a few days at least, judging by what one hears. Posing lis Miss Campbell Bannerman, ■ daughter of Colonel Campbell Bannerman ("dear papa is fishing down South"), and niece of the Jate Prime Minister of -.England, she put up at the Grand, ordered and got a gorgeoits new "rig-out" from a firm

>f fashionable drapers, went to the races to., etc., and all, so it is said, "on the nod." A member of one ♦of the verj # naioest" families invited her to luncheor «t the races, and escorted ber about the awn, and no less a personage than t 'udge's Avife drove her out m her callage, introdmoed friends, and got up a special afternoon "At home" to mccl Miss Campbell Bamverman. One lady vas nearly, but luckily not quite, "taken loavii" for a good chequ© '"to see her 'hrough to ).Rotoruo- ; I'll send it ' down *rom Auckland when papa comes," and ->rily escaped . by the \ merest chance And now to • learn that Miss Campbell .-'^annennan is, plain "May Hallett," aliaf BaJcer. alias' Curtain, alias the -Tonorable Miss CoUard, is sad in'leed for the "haicest," though I am bound to say that ordinary and hearties? 'oik are laugbing fit to kill themselves over the young person's escapades.