GAY DECEIVER.

Western Star, 3 December 1935, Page 3

GAY DECEIVER.

BOGUS MAJOR’S CAREER. MASQUERADING FOR TWENTY YEARS. “1 could hav e dropped through the floor when I heard his history told in court,’ was the expression used in a talk with me by Mrs Peters, the woman, who offered bail for a bogus major after he had been sentenced at Andover, Hampshire, writes Edwin Tetlow, in the ‘Daily Mail. ’ Richard Gerald Willoughby, of Mayfair had been sent to prison for three months for wearing military decora, tions, and lined £5 for wearing the uniform of a major of the R.A.M.C. without authority.

The case wa s a sequel to a hoax played by a booted and spurred Willoughby on Army Officers at South Tidworth, and during the hearing it- was revealed that for 20 years Willoughby, under a variety of names, had played the masquerador and hoodwinked civiliam- and officials in all parts of the world. SEEMED DOWNCAST. Mrs Peters.’ offer of bail pending an ppeal against P cntenco was refused fol. lowing police inquiries ’File police superintendent told the magistrates : “While I have no doubt that she is acting in good faith. I am satisfied that she is not in a position to secure his rircduction.”

“T met file major less than a month ago.” Mrs Peters said; “when I went to his establishment' in Upper Berkeley street, W. —the London Institute of Therapeutics—for slimming treatment.

“One day he seemed very downcast mid when I asked him his trouble he showed me a newspaper with an account of how he had gone tp Tidworth, and, for a wager, acted the P a rt of a major. He told me si day or two ago that a. beautiful young Woman whom T knew as : ‘Bahs,’ had broken off fheir engagement. .1 understand it was because of flie Tidworth escapade. “He seemed so utterly friendless that T offered to come to Andover with him. Tt seemed the least T could do fo- a friend whom T had alw°vs found charming and straightforward “Even during th P drive down ho said not n word about hi R past. I calf hnrdlv believe it true. But even after T had heard it I felt T could not let him down at this awful time for him. and/ that is why I offered myself as surety for bail. , BEAUTIFUL PLACE. “His place in Mavfair is beautifully fitted out. and I know be lias done many of his patients a great deal of rood. I reduced considerably, thanks to hig prescription and treatment. “In his business be has been assisted by n nurse in uniform, and has been living quietly in rooms in St T ohn’s Wood I cannot think of anybody who had tho remotest idea of his oast. He is really p charming person, nid children adore him.” Willoughby, rurldv-fnced and broad, houldered. pleaded guilty to the charges Mid listened with head erect to thei •lolice account of his past.

During the case it was stated that be had posed as a clergyman and act-' -tally preached a sermon; posed as a ■ hpitered accountant and obtained a ■ ituation worth £I.OOO a year; bought aj doctor’s ip-act ice. and when another doctor called on him to buy it. caused) neciilp. from the unemployment exchange to fill his consulting room so that the doctor would think they were natients. When he wn. ; told that Mrs Peters’s! offer of bail bad been refused, Willoughby, although lie knew he could produce a substitute surety, rejected the chance and decided to “Face the music:” without more ado.