ARISTOCRATIC COOK

Southland Times, Issue 17347, 19 May 1913, Page 6

ARISTOCRATIC COOK

GOWNS AND MOTOR CARS. SMARTEST WOMAN ABOUT TOWN. f MELBBOURNE. May 9. Melbourne is laughing to-day over the brilliant masquerading of a young woman who lias puzzled tlie police for some months. She lias victimised drapers, motor garage proprietors, and housewives, being materially assisted by u faultless address and a smart outfit. Pour months ago a pretty young woman, was as cook by Mr Cathcart. at Geelong. She was a good cook. She was also an accomplished student of the fashions, and when site took her evening out she was the smartest woman about town. She made such an impression upon local tradespeople, to' whom she introduced herself as Mrs Cathcart’s sister, that she was allowed to run up long accounts for feminine fripperies. Late in March she was expecting to be confined. She went to tlie big drapers to make further purchases and .settle up. She presented a cheque for £55 drawn on a cheque form originally on the Inglewood branch, but Inglewood had been scratched out and Castlemaine substituted. The cheque was returned dishonoured, but by that time the charming lady was in Melbourne. She had gone to the city by motor-car, paid for out of tlie £l9 as 3d received as change from a false cheque. The woman was refused admission to Dr Stirling’s private hospital, but gave birth next day to a stillborn child at a private hospital at Carlton. When she could get about again she went to a leading motor garage to negotiate for tlie purchase of a car. Her dress, her furs, her languid and aristocratic manner impressed the manager. Her personal charm had a sensible effect also, and lie took a £ 800 car up to the hospital to give her a trial run. Tlie manager lias since looked upon April 10 as one of his busy days. At “Mrs Rees'” request—that was tlie name she gave—two of the nurses, accompanied her. The ladies were taken for a breezy nm down by St. Hilda and on the way back tlie manager look them for afternoon tea at Hie Vienna cafe. Tlie party returned to Die hospital at 6 p.m. During tlie run the manager had been striving to recollect where lie had seen "Mrs Rees” before. Finally his memory seemed to tell him that it was in connection with a little money affair at Bairnsdale some years ago. He taxed her with it on the return, but she Indignantly denied it. During the evening he brought his brother to see her, unknown to her. He also recognised her. and when she learned this she broke down. The matron was informed, and naturally consternation prevailed. She was told she must pay and depart, but she treated the matter very lightly, and said she would get the money from her room. She rushed upstairs into a fellow-pati-ent’s room, borrowed a £lO note, and handed this to tlie matron. At 11.30 p.m. she left, as also did the manager. The gay adventuress retired into obscurity for u season. She went to the T.W.C.A. rooms, and placed herself on their books as an applicant for a position as cook. On April 26 she was engaged by Mr Arthur Roberts, of “Arvelyn,” Mitcbam-road, Mitcham. Here she still maintained the dual role of humble servant and motoring lady. On April 30 she called up a car from a garage in Hawthorn to take her for a 30-mile drive. She met the car at the gate, passed herself oil as Mrs Roberts, and, at the end of the drive, told the driver in an off-hand way that she wanted to go to Beech worth next day. and would probably require him for a fortnight. On May Day she started on the Beechworth trip. Meanwhile Detective-Sergeant Bannon and Detective Mercer had been making inquiries, based on the Geelong report. They tracked the woman as far as Mrs Roberts's, and then telephoned to tiie garage to ask if anything had been heard of Alexander Fraser, the chauffeur. No word had been received by bis employers. but be bad written to his sister to say that be was having “a great time" and money was plentiful. A telegram of instructions was sent to Senior-Con-stable Cameron, of Beechworbb. yesterday afternoon.' During Hie evening a reply was received to the effect that a woman had been arrested' by tlie local police on a charge of false pretences, and had been remanded until Saturday, pending tlie arrival of tlie warrant.