STOLE IN STYLE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19002, 1 May 1924, Page 2

STOLE IN STYLE

▲ CAREER- OF CRIME. ELOCUTION CLASS IN GAOL SYDNEY, April IL William Davenport Brown, graduate in engineering of the McGill University, Montreal, Canada, late of New York, Auckland, and Wellington, New Zealand, and also of Darlingiiurst, and now of the Long Bay Penitentiary, advanced a step further at the Central Police Court in a remarkable career of crime, vihich he began in February, 1922 (says the Daily Guardian). He was sentenced to six months 6 hard labour for having obtained money by false pretences from Harry Roberts, 51 Craigend street, Darlinghurst, with whom Brown had lived. According to evidence given, Browu told Roberts that he intended to tender for the electric lighting of the additions to Manning House, and required £lO to lodge with the tender. The deposit was not required, and De tective Contans took the matter in hand. LEFT IN A HURRY. In the witness-box, Brown smilingly admitted to Sergeant Dennis that ho had left Montreal in a hurry. In New York, in February, 1922, he admitted, he had been convicted for forgery. In Auckland he escaped conviction on a larceny charge by making restitution, but was sentenced a month later in Wellington to three months’ gaol for theft. In June last year he was sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment at Long Bay for false pretences, and was released in February this year. “It is a great pity, Brown,” said Mr Gates, 5.M.., “that a man of your education and ability cannot run straight.” DETAINED ON WEDDING DAY. He was married about a fortnight ago, and five minutes after the ceremony took place was detained by Detectives Gallagher’ rflid Thompson on another matter. After inquiries, however, they allowed him to resume his interrupted honeymoon. The police say that Brown was an ex-lieutenant of the Royal Artillery, and was divorced by his wife in Canada in 1921. IN NEW ZEALAND. During his brief stay in Auckland he mixed with “the best people,” and even told some o£ his friends that he was to accompany the Governor-Gener-al, Lord Jellicoa, on his trip to Australia. While in Sydney he claimed that he was a distant relative of the late Sir Walter Davidson, and posed as the Hon. Captain Brown. While waiting for sentence last year he formed an elocution class among his fellow-prisoners at Long Bay. He prepared eloquent addresses for each, calculated to soften the heart of the sternest judge.

His own, however, fell flat, because the judge had the others first.