A THOROUGH SCOUNDREL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1182, 23 September 1885, Page 4

A THOROUGH SCOUNDREL.

There has been placed in the hands of the police of Melbourne a warrant for the apprehension of an individual who is alleged by the prosecutrix in the case to have been guilty of the grossest dnception toward her. The warrant charges the accused with wife desertion only ; but had not the law regarding marriage precluded her from doing so, the prosecutrix would have charged the accused with felony. The proßecutrix was, until recently, saloon stewardess on board the Geelong, one of Messrs Howard Smith and Sons' steamers running to Geelong. She was a widow, with only one young son, and being; desirous of relinquishing the arduous berth of stewardess, and embarking in some more congenial occupation, she invested her capital, iJIOO. in a cheap lodging-house, at 202 Russell street. There was staying at this place Samuel Gale, a man about forty-four yeara of age, for whose arrest the warrant has been issued. The proaecutrix declares that by hia representations she * was induced to marry him. They were married by the Rev. Mr Bath, at Wesley Church, Lonsdale street, Gale describing himself as a "naval officer." A few days ago Gale said he was awaiting his recall to Sydney to rejoin one of the war vessels under Rear-Admiral Tryon's command, and produced a telegram purpoting to come from Rear- Admiral Tryon's "private secretary," requiring him to come at once, and subsequently produced another, purpoting to be signed by Rear- Admiral Tryon himself. He informed his wife that she would have to accompany him, and she accordingly placed her business in the market for sale, and on Tuesday afternoon she went out to complete negotiations. When she returned she found Gale had disappeared, and about £50 in gold and a geld watch, a chain, and compass were missing. She says that she has since been informed it was a plan to deceive her, and that the telegrams (which she has in her possession) were sent from Sydney by a confederate of the accused. She has further been informed that the "naval officer" has a wife at Heidelberg. He has left behind a Government rifle and a bayonet. She is penniless, and the police ate searching for the "naval officer/' — Melbowtne " Tfttegiaph."