"A VERY BRAVE LADY."

Waikato Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5157, 14 November 1912, Page 3

"A VERY BRAVE LADY."

“You are a very brave [lady,” said Mr Curtis Bennett, the magistrate, at Bow street, the other day, to Mrs Harriet Crornbie, aged 85, of Doric Mansions, Fulham road, who gave evidence against William Thomas Watts on a charge of being in the unlawful possession of thirty-five cancelled cheques. Mrs Crornbie stated that Walts called at her flat, and, posing as a carter employed at the mansions, said he was looking for a bag. She told him she did not know him, but he pushed his way into the flat, and said: “I am looking for a forger. Keep quiet; don’t make a noise, because this is secret service. lam a detective. 1 have two men outside, and I will call them in if you make a noise.”

“Ha stated that he would pay me handsomely if I would give him any information about the man,” she continued. “I replied, I‘dont’ know what man you mean, or what you are talking rbcut.’ “I had a bundle of about seventy jiaid cheques in my hand, and Watts snatched them from mo, saying, ‘I must have them; detectives are allowed to take anything they wish.’ He then took 3s from the piano and placed the coins in his pocket. I directed him to replace the money on the piano, and after some demur he did so. “1 asked him to return tne cheques. At liist he su’d he had not got them, but I po.o ; that they were pro-

truding from ins pocket. Hu then scattered the cheques over the floor. “He said he was going to inspect the other rooms, and went into the bicycle room. Pointing to a bicycle there, he said, ‘You don’t ride. Whose machine is this?’ I said it belonged to a young lady, and he remarked, ‘l’ll take it.’ “Ho began to take the cover off, and when I tried to prevent him he said, ‘You are an old woman; 1 don’t want to frighten you. We detectives are aways allowed to take anything for a case.’ “I told him that 1 was not frightened, and that I did not believe his story. I made him leave the room. As I was going out he tried to shut me inside. My arm was in the door, and as I was trying to free myself I slipped. Walts pushed me down, and when 1 got up he said, ‘lt’s your son 1 am looking for.’ I told him that I bad no son. “He next went into the kitchen, and taking from the mantelshelf a Pox containing photographs and a Prayerbook, he said, ‘You are a Catholic.’ I said I was not, and added, ‘I wish you would go, but before you go pick up all those cheques.’ He stooped down to pick them up, and while he was cioing so I backed out of the door and flew up the stairs.

“He followed and overtook mo. I was holding the banister rail. He struck my wrist and forced me to release my hold, and finally ne threw me down on a mat.”

“We heard footsteps, and I managed to escape into a neighbour’s flat, the door of which had been left open. At that moment Mrs Thompson, the occupiei of the flat, came along the corridor, and I heard Watts say to her. ‘Hush: there’s a strange woman in your flat.’ “I opened the door and told my neighbour what had happened, but Watts managed to escape. I afterwards saw a newspaper report of his arrest, and I communicated with the police.” “I asked you if I could look at the cheques,” said Watts, “and you said, ‘Certainly.’ ” “He mistakes me fora fool,” Mrs Corahie told the magistrate, “and I u.a not one.” “You are quite right,” replied the magistrate.” “When I saw Mrs Thompson,” demanded Watts, “did I not say, ‘ Look after the lady, she’s ill or frightened?’ ” “I was not frightened,” replied Mrs Crornbie. “ You were—l was not.” “She is a very plucky and a very brave lady,” said the magistrate. “That is what 1 think about her.” Watts was committed for trial on the charge of stealing tne cheques.