BRAZEN FRAUD

Waikato Times, Volume 123, Issue 20693, 31 December 1938, Page 24 (Supplement)

BRAZEN FRAUD

DOORKEEPER IMPRISONED ] YOUNG GIRL VICTIMISED STORY TOLD TO COURT During the next 12 months a 41-year-old ex-chef-cinema doorkeeper, of London, will have ample opportunity to think over the amazing decepj tion he carried out on a girl who by I dow hoped to be installed in a Re- ! gent’s Park mansion as his wife. | Broken-hearted, her romance of six I weeks mercilessly shattered, the girl I walked from Brentford Police Court as her fiance was led away to the cells, three days before the date he had fixed for their marriage. “ We are going to see that society is relieved of your 'presence for a while," declared the chairman of the Bench, Alderman J. H. Nias, as he sentenced the man, Edward Willis. J Miss Jessie K. Ansell, of Bulstrode S Avenue, Hounslow, Middlesex, the girl Willis was to marry heard him declare he had nothing to say. Then he was led away.

Miss Ansell had believed Willis when he told her he was a junior partner in the Associated British Cinema Company, earning £250 a week. W’hen he asked her to marry him, she accepted.

But the only connection Willis had with the film world was that he had been doorman at a Fulham cinema for a few weeks earning £2 7s 6d a week. Story of Courtship The story of his courtship of Miss Ansell was revealed in court when he admitted obtaining £3O from her by false pretences, obtaining money from her brother, and obtaining free board and lodging. Detective-Sergeant George Gould related that the couple met casualty outside Victoria Station six weeks before. They entered into conversation and arranged to meet again. Willis declared that he was undermanager of a cinema at Fulham. Later he stated that he had been promoted to the post of supervisor of the whole Associated British Cinemas circuit at a wage of £lO a week.

He told Miss Ansell that he held the job conditionally upon getting married, and on the strength of this story, he proposed. “He told her he had a banking account of £4000,” continued Sergeant Gould, “ and that he had decided to run it as a joint account. He mentioned also that he

had taken out a life insurance policy for £2OOO. and that he liad just sold a house in Kingston for about that figure. He declared also that he had received a legacy of £I7OO. and added that he held stocks and shares.”

The officer went on to say that after all this, Willis declared it was taking some time for the bank to arrange the joint account, and Miss Ansell advanced him £ls. A week later he announced he had been appointed junior parlner to Mr Moss, the owner of Associated British Ginmmas, and that his salary was £250 a week. Regent’s Park House He added that he was entitled to a house in Gloucester Terrace, Regent’s Park. “ On the strength of this ” declared Sergeant Gould, “he borrowed further sums of £7 and £8 from Miss Ansell, making £3O in all. In the meantime, for three weeks he had been enjoying the hospitality of the girl’s parents at Bulstrode Avenue. It was there that he was arrested.” The officer added that MTss Ansell’s brother, a Mr Neale, advanced Willis £5 on the man’s story that he was unable to draw money from his hanking account. “ From March 25 to April 7 last year,” Sergeant Gould revealed, “ Willis worked together with a woman, who posed as his wife, and in the assumed name of Reginald Harris obtained board and lodging in Kingston. “ He admits five other offences involving various thefts.” Sergeant Gould then outlined Willis' criminal history, which dated back to 1928, and included five sentences of hard labour for fraud. Passing sentence of four months’ hard labour on each of the three charges, Ab’erman Nias declared: ‘‘We ha3c t wen all the otiiSr cases into consid '" .tion.”