BIGAMOUS BAKER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5566, 15 May 1896, Page 2

BIGAMOUS BAKER.

EXTRAORDINARY CAREER OF FRAUD. "A LOVELY TIME." [From Our Cosrespondent.l LONDON, March 27. An extraordinary career of fraud was partially exposed at Bow Street last Friday, when a more or leas prepossessing individual named Charles Baker, alias Farquharson, Gordon, Hamilton, Fenwick, Crispi, Farrar, Harcourt and (not to prolong the list unduly) Cooke, was charged with bigamy on a wholesale scale. Baker is alleged to have made .£15,000 out of one of his wives and <£1300 out of another. The sum total of his. villainies will probably never be known. The police are said to be able to prove any number of marriages np to. seven against him, but probably h6 has gone through as many more. Many of his "widows," however, will be too happy to find themselve3 released, or too much afraid of "public sympathy "to come forward to bear witness against the rascal. Baker was A BOVER OF THE MOST PRONOUNCED TYPE. He trotted round anywhere between the English spas, the Continent and Australia. He never stayed longer than was necessary at any one place apparently, but when in England he had, it seems, a decided penchant' for Windermere. It was whilst staying at this resort as Mr " Farquharson," in 1890, that he met, wooed and won the lady .with .£15.000. When he left her in the following year, she was the poorer by that sum and some considerable amount of jewellery. The chief witness against Baker on Friday was, however, a fairhaired, petite damsel of tender years named Griffiths. She met Baker at Buxton, in 1891, where both were undergoing hydropathic ■ treatment. Baker, as Arthur Albert Gordon, paid her great attention, and gave a most promising account of his family and position. He confessed to owning large estates in .Victoria and in New Zealand, and spoke mournfully of HIS DEAR DEPARTED' FATHER, who had been " Chief. Justice of Bombay." At length Mr Gordon (.why do all swindlers annex our national hero's name) told his love. " Would Miss Griffiths change her name to Gordon ?" She would, and to show her honourable intentions, the young lady at once introduced Arthur Albert to her friends and relations as her husband in posse. The friends were charmed, and all went smoothly. Gordon persuaded his fiancee to insure her life, and very kindly took care of the policy. He also took possession of certain sums of money she owned, just to pay his passage out to Australia, to look after those estates. The pair then came up to London and HAD A " LOVELY TIME " at the Metropole, Miss Griffiths's money paying what were most likely very unlovely bills. They got married in duo course, and then Gordon suddenly discovered that he had some property at Gloucester which had, besides lovely trees, houses, &c, a mortgage upon it. This encumbrance he was anxious to clear off, and obtained .£llOO from his wife for the purpose, promising her that he would transfer the property, when free, to her. Having got the money Gordon promptly vanished, leaving behind him an Australian address. To this the forlorn little wifie wrote nice letters every mail, but, like the cat in the song, they all came back. It transpired during the proceedings .that whilst courting Miss Griffiths, Gordon caused a letter to be written from Australia to his wife (Mrs Farquharson) announcing lm own death. After hearing Miss Griffiths's story, the Magistrate remanded Mr Baker, Gordon, &c, f or a week. The further hearing- was resumed to-day, when Baker was committed for trial.