CONSPIRACY ALLEGED.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4944, 26 February 1926, Page 4

CONSPIRACY ALLEGED.

FRAUD ON INSURANCE COMPANY.

“DEAD” WOMAN' ARRESTED.

The sea a t t picturesque Ilfracombe, Devon, did not give up its “dead’ when Susannah Bevan was supposed to be drowned there. The Probate Court presumed death, and an insuiance company paid out £2BBl 13s 6d. On Friday the “dead” woman was found alive and arrested in ,the Glentui district.

A woman fond of the sea, she signified her intention of bathing on a mid-suinmer morning—June221,4 1 , 1922, but she did not return, and ..the discovery of her clothes in a heap on the sands led to grave fears (reports! the Christchurch “Sun”), and diligent police searched miles of coast-line without tangible result The Providential Insurance Company, of London, following the presumption of death by the Probate Court, paid out on the policy to rhe executors. Years passed with nothing more being known of Susapnafi Bevan. But Scotland Yard heard a whisper, and that whisper, in the absence of trace of the woman built up a healthy suspicion, which led to the greatest detective department in .the world sending but its inquiries with full particulars. Among them was a photograph of the woman—an invaluable aid to identification.

It so happened that months ago there 'arrived in New Zealand a woman, aged 52, bearing a remarkable resemblance .to the photograph.

' Her trunk was marked “T.F.,” her rug was English-made, and if asked her name she would s.ay it was Trixie Finch. For months' she has beeii travelling about, spending time at Oamaru, Dunedin, and Christchurch. Two months ago the Christchurch detectives located the woman, and kept her under surveillance, awaiting a warrant from London. The authority came to 1 hand on Friday morning, a,nd at 4 p.m. Chief Detective T. Gibson, Detective A. Allen, and Police-Matron Rogers motored out to Rangiora, and at 6.30 p.m. "Trixie Finch,” cook at Hayland Station, not very far from. Gl.entui, was arrested, and she. admitted her Identity. On Saturday d thin, wa,n woman, and sick-looking, Susannah Bevan, alias Trixie Finch, was charged before Mr H. Y. yfiddowson ,S.M., with having on or aLout June 24, 1922, at London, conspired to defraud the Prudential. Insurance Co., Ltd., of London, of £2BBl 13s 6d. She was remanded until February 26. ■ Meanwhile she will wait until an officer, of Scotland Yard comes t to take her back to England.