MAY HALLETT AGAIN.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12245, 19 June 1909, Page 8

MAY HALLETT AGAIN.

A TOUR IN A MOTOR CAR

AND COURT PROCEEDINGS

"Inglis Brcs. v May Hallett!" At the sound of the name, the handful of at the Civil Court on Thursday pricked up their cars expecting to hear something interesting. The action was one far a judgment summons, and -he watchers behind the barrier evidently thought that May Hallett would, appear in person to defend. In this they were disappointed. . Instead, Mr I* Jackson announced himself as appearing for the- defence, and Mr Yon Haast appeared in support of the aj> plication; The debt was one of £17 5s tid for motor car hire.

Mr Jackson intimated that h:s client v'as willing to make a substantial offer to reduce the debt. She was at present working in a city bar, and earning abr>nt £2 a week.

To this Mr Yon Haast*'replied that "he must press for judgment, as plaintilfs believed that Miss. Hallett intend~ecl leaving for Sydney this week.' In order to secure an order for immediate payment he would prove that' there "had been fraud in the incurmeni of the debt. "If Miss Hallett succeeded in bamboozling the fashion able society of "Hobson Street," he eaid, "it is small wonder that she also succeeded in bamboozling a chauffeur.'' . - Mr Jackson: I don't think my friend has a right to say that. The jury said that Miss Hailetb did not bamboozle ■■'fhe society of Wellington. ■•■.■/ Thomas" Inglis; motor car proprietor, -was the first witness called. He stated -that on January 27th, he received a, telephone message from "Miss Donald" stating that she wanted to go to CampbeUtowii— a little place outside Feilding. Her mother was there dying, and she had just missed the express train. She said that she was telephoning from Mrs White's house, near the Karori tunnel, and that, ts> save time, she would meet the motor car at the tunnel. It was arranged that the car was to be paid for beforehand. Tho "car was sent; in accordance' with' the -arrangement, and, subsequently in consequence of telegrams which Mr Inglis •-received from his chauffeur, the latter ~<was instructed to return from Palmersi;on immediately.-; >. Mr Jackson ; : Did your chauffeur receive £10 from Miss Donald?—^es, but '■she was to^ have paid-—- ■■ Mr Jackson: Never mind about that. . Did your.chauffeur get £10.?—Yesi- but she misled him " • . . Mr Jackson: Never mind about that* All I want to know was if you got>the .-•3EiO/.v •■ -' ■-.■■'' ■• ■■' ' ••.;;;- ■•■■■' -- -■• The next w."in ess JoaUed* was -S. Davidge, the phaiiffeur. On January 27th, lie said, he was instructed to go to Karori Tunnel to meet r a lady named Miss Donald. He'met bec&nd she.gaye. Turn £10, telling him thai she had afia,n god with Mr Inglis to pay the balance at the end of the journey. She also said, that she .might need the1 car for a journey further than Campbell-,-town, and she. had arranged with the plaintiff that she might have the^ use of the ear if she wished. On thejour-Th-ey lip in the car defendant tod witness that she did not think that her mother was very ill; but^had only said so in ordsr to get her io Campbelltown. 'She ccailided to the: chauffeur that she was a step-daughter of Sir Henry 'Campbell-Bannerman. Her father had ■311stIbought1bought a big cs fate in the South Island, and was thinkings of settling there. On arrival.at Palmerston "Miss Donald" stated,thai she, would telephone to her people at Feilding, She -went away with the stated intention or doing this and returned to say that, they had left for Wariganui; where she -was. to follow them. The chauffeur then drove her on-to Feilding and thence to Marion, from which place, she stai> ,ed, *he telephoned to Wanganui. and ascertained thai her parents had-left "for Hastings, where they were going to stop with Mr Stead. At Marion ■ "the chauffeur and "Mis® Donald" stayed "for the ni^ht, and next morning; motored fo^,^ and thence to Waipawa. '-At"Waipawa «he we.nt to. -the. post office., and then returned, stating that she vfrad -rung --■up,, Mr"Stead's station, and fbun&ttfiai Mr Stead had left for Woo&ville. She then decided that it would be best for them to go to Woodville. and find Mr Stead, ns be wm^d be. able to tell her. where lever father was. So next day they left for Woodville. and there she introduced the chauffeur to a young-mah who she-;, said was Mr Stead. From Wordville tljf> narty went to Pahjntua with the intention of going to. Palmerston, but at Pahintna defendant, said thai sjie. was nfraid of driving through the Gorge? in the car, and preferred to go by +>va;i\ and meet the chauffenr again at Palmerston. Before leayiDs;. with, this expressed . intention /she- asked..witness to return .the £10 which she b,nd jjiven liim at,thev commoTicejneTit of the journey, saying that she would pay, Mr "Inglis the fnll amount b^ cheque on "arrival in. Wellington. Witness complied with defendant's reqv.est, and she insisted on his keeping £5 for his personal expenses. Accordingly witness motored through the Manawatii Gorge "and sought "Mtas. Driiialfi" at the Grand Hotel. Palmers (-on " North,. but ' found that"'she had not been 1b re, nor "did she arrive subsequently. '~'..

Mr Yon TTafi«t: Havo yon fs<-v»~i May Hallctt in Wellington .since?—'•'¥*-."■

And is she the person who cabled herself Miss Donald.?—" Yes."

Mr Jackson, for the 'defonrn. si;d that .ho did not feo what T»'.ni';+:ff's counsel had proved ; n reg-wlt- Miss HalleK AH they had hoard was a.b~ut M'cs Dn-naH. . ,' , , t His "Worship :Thoyhr'--f» w t^l that she weift :th^in2 lirxM<- f I}"* Ir>>i<rth and breadth of the Nirt'i Jr'and under fal=e pretences, and sli3 has confessed "judgment.

An order was made for immediate "naymont of the sum due. ii\ default 14 days' impnV'iiment —■"Dominion."