AN UNDESIRABLE SWEETHEART.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2092, 29 May 1907, Page 3

AN UNDESIRABLE SWEETHEART.

An astonishing story, which led to

tlie arrest of a young man named Roy Robertson, was related on Sunday, 21st April, at the Detective Office, Alelbourne, by Aliss Edith Walsley, of 168 Cardigan-street, Carlton. Aliss IValnisley’s story boars incidentally upon tho unsolved tragedy of tho Albort Park Lagoon (says the Alelbourne Age), and her love troubles date from about a time corresponding with the discovery of the. mutilated remains of a man in the water of the lagoon. Aliss AValsley states that she has been engaged to Roy Robertson since 190 b, when sho met him at a social. He heaped jewellery upon her, and was overwhelming in his protestations of undying affection. They wero constantly in each other’s ‘company. Slio made hint a presout of a gold sovereign case. He made a trip to New Zealand, and while there his letters to

her became somewhat scarce and a trifle formal, but when ho returned all his old wealth of warm affection returned with him, till about the time of the gruesome discovery in tlie Albert Park Lagoon, when ho mysteriously disappeared.

Here the narrative of Aliss AValsley must be interrupted to admit of what then happened. Air. Roy Robortson’s mother saw the published facts of the discovery of the dissected remains of' a man in the Albert Park Lagoon, and at the same time

had a vision which disclosed to her the heartbreaking, possibility that

the remains were those of her son, who had mysteriously disappeared, together witli his bicycle. Tlie task of investigating the report concerning the case fell to the lot of Detectives Coonan and Sainsbury. From what they learned they much doubted the authenticity of the vision displayed to his mother, and subsequently they found that Roy had sold his bicycle, also his pony and jiuker, had taken a trip to Sydney in the company of two or three very agreeable companions, and that lie was enjoying himself immensely in the harbor city. Thus they were ablf to ailay his mother’s forebodings. Resuming her story, Aliss A\ r alsley stated that after a considerable time she received letters from Roy in Sydney stating that he was hard up, and wanted money. He asked- her to send him £l. This she did, but she then got another letter saying that he had not received the money. She then forwarded him 10s and registered the letter. This he acknowledged. On Saturday, 20th April, she received a letter from his mother, asking her to come and see her, and on Saturday night she went, wearing a gold watch, a gold bangle, and two diamond rings, which Roy Robertson had given her as presents. Mrs. Robertson received her, shook hands, conversed a little upon ordinary topics, and then asking to be excused left tlie room. Almost immediately Roy Robertson appeared, and, closing the door after him, upbraided her for not sending the money he had leaked for when he was hard up in Sydney. She replied that she had sent £1 and 10s. “AA’ell,” he said, “I have got into serious trouble, and I want money to get out of it. I’m not going to run any risk while you havo jewellery. Give it to me, for I want to pawn it or sell it to raise kii-oncy.” She refused to give him the jewellery, but he caught hold jf her and forcibly, tore the watch and chain from her breast. He then seized her wrist and toro the bangle from her arm. She had put one of tho diamond rings in her mouth, but he forced it open, and the ring fell out, and lie pulled the other rings off her fingers, and put them on his own. Slio then walked out of the room, slammed the door, and left the house,

Next day she related the fact to the detectives, and on Monday a warrant for the arrest of Robertson wjis issued by Mr. Panton. On Tuesday morning, when Detectives Sainsbury and Coonan went to execute the warrant, they were met by Mrs. Robertson, who said her son; was away looking for work. Tlie detectives said they would like to nave a loqk for him, but Mrs. Robertson blocked the way, impulsively exclaiming; “I declare to my God he is not here,” (and she reiterated the denial time and again. The officers, however, knew better, arid as they entered the house Ah'S. Robertson called up the stairs, “Come down, Roy; you’re wanted. It’s no use staying up there ” Then turning to the detectives, she remarked, “I know you people don’t come on this kind of mission without a warrant.” Roy Robertson-, who came down, produced tlie jewellery, and handing it over, said it was his own.' He was. then arrested; and locked up on a charge of larceny.