“His Grace” the Masquerader

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 714, 13 July 1929, Page 2

“His Grace” the Masquerader

Impostor with Taste for Orchids and Expensive Entertaining . . . Claimed that he Held Ducal Titles a-=, EHIND a conviction at Cpj Hamstead for theft lies /U a story of an amazing rfa masquerade carried on by a man on a most Playing many spectacular roles, the impostor adopted such titles as the “Duke of Milan," the “Duke of Braudeburg,” and ’ Lord Braemar,” and pretended that he was heir to a rich Continental estate. Always with plenty of money to burn —his wealth coming from some unknown source —he entertained in expensive style at hostelries he frequented, and made gifts of jew-ellery, dresses, and flowers to barmaids. He was also exceptionally generous to Guardsmen he met, and on one occasion took a party of soldiers to the Hamstead Heath fair. He held lordly sway in the Knightsbridge district —on the fringe of London’s Bohemian quarter—where his passion for flowers, and his taste for one particular bloom, earned bint the soubriquet of the “lord with the orchid.” One day Mr. James S. Giles, of Sarre Road, Cricklewood, gave a tea to the poor children of West Hamstead. It was here he first met Frederick Walk, 34. In the'eourse of a conversation that followed Walk told his new acquaintance that he was unemployed, and solicited assistance. Thus a friendship was started, and for three years Mr. Giles gave the man board and lodging. Then he discovered that he was a thief, and on a charge of stealing a typewriter Walk was sentenced at Hamstead to 12 months’ imprisonment with hard labour. He asked that two other charges of theft should be taken into consideration. It, was after parting from Mr. Giles that Walk, who had posed as the “Duke of Milan,” embarked on a grand style of living. For a time he stayed at an hotel at Victoria, where he gave the name of Lord Braemar, and spent at the rate of £IOO a day. In Knightsbridge, where he soon became a well-known figure, he blossomed forth as the “Duke of Brand eburg,” and he so impressed people he met with his graceful ways that they addressed him as “Your Grace.” Flowers were one of his passions, and one recipient of his floral gifts states that the bouquets she used to receive—as many as three a week—cost from five to ten guineas each. Invariably wearing an orchid in his buttonhole, he would enter some of his favourite haunts with armfuls of seasonal blooms. While he patronised some of the best-known florists, he just as often bought the entire tray of a street flower-seller. “Sometimes,” said one of his acquaintances, “he would give everything he had purchased away. He has been known to go into an outfitter's shop, and after selecting collars, ties, aDd other articles, pay cash, and present them to the person behind the counter ‘with the Duke’s compliments.’ ” In hotels and public houses he visited he was always “hail fellow vVell met.” “What about a bottle of ‘fizz,’ boys?” was his usual invitation to a coterie of friends.

.; After standing the drinks he depart, with the remark that he * , | going to see his "dear old auntie 15 1 Berkeley Square.” w • 1 | Always perfectly dressed, of au« temperament and charming ntaue«“ y i he was only known to have been 5 * noyed once. This was when he 1 . an expensive orchid in his button hr^ ; and a girl acquaintance jocularly*' j marked. “I just love that lioneysufJ?' [ you are wearing." Walk was'ahrav! kind to children, and begging neoi? who approached him never *entnS ‘ with an empty hand. "I was JJv - duced to Walk last Christmas p-Il - stated one man who knew him. -w - met at a certain hotel, and he told b i that he was the nephew of the jw? i of Norfolk, ami had a private iaco„ « of about £20.000 a year. I rentembf. ■ I was drinking a glass of beer and l remarked, ‘Don’t drink that si a * - When you drink with a duke, you drir . i this.’ at the same time holding ud a : liqueur glass containing Benedictine i . met him several times afterward | The -duke’ was particularly f on a , i drinking with Guardsmen, and ' ; he had their company he would kew . ; them supplied with drinks and exr» E ' j sive cigarettes and cigars. I re ”,‘ ; lect being in one hostelry last East-. ! 1 Monday when 1 saw the ‘duke’ snr. rounded by a number of Guardsmea , After the bar was closed he took then along to Hamstead Heath, where the , afternoon was spent among the side, shows at the fair. At a cocoanut-shr stall he bought 10s worth of balls st a time. On another afternoon he took a company to a box at a theatrs

and drove them there in a luxurious car, which he had specially hired. At times he would visit the Horse Guards canteen in Whitehall. His favourite pastime there was to put , £5 notes on the dart board. If any ! one succeeded in putting a dan } through the note it was given him. He had a peculiar liking for rings, and wore one on every finger except his thum.” By the sentence passed on him by the Hamstead magistrates. Walk’s activities have been checked for a time, at least. Before be was removed from the dock, the presiding magisj trate told him that “he had pursued a course of blackened hypocriar, J crime, and base ingratitude.”