"THE STAR" ILLUMINED THE HEAVENS!

NZ Truth, Issue 1188, 6 September 1928, Page 3

"THE STAR" ILLUMINED THE HEAVENS!

Impertinent Aviation Trickster Brands Southern Gross Expedition As Aerial Stunt Artists - ? ..•■ ■ ■■'. . • • ••■ ..-■ ' '77" " • ■■■. ■-'■■■ '■••> ''•.'.- * '

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|| v (From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Christchurch Representative.) « |f ft .WITH THE NAMES of flying men, flying boats and stories of fresh air conquests discussed on every hand, the atmosphere ll || was favorable m Christchurch last week for "Captain" G.F. Stewdrt-BrysOn (note the hyphen), a-self-styled Canadian air pilot} ,\\ fl to stage a colossal bluff || If Since the announcement that Kingsford Smith and his i Southern Cross party proposed to land m Canterbury, aeronautics ff II formed the sole topic of conversation m the province and completely plunged into obscurity such matters as fpotball and the likely 1| || winner of the Grand National. , „.-.- If If The element of *doubt following the ill-starred attempt of Captain Hood and Lieutenant Moncrieff to cross the unconquered \\ || Tasman developed that speculative interest for which New Zealanders are noted. It was; therefore, only natural that within a few || || days of the expected landing of the Pacific heroes, Canterbury residents were worked up to a pitch that laid them open to the If || perpetration of an impertinent hoax by the hyphenated Stewa rl-Bryson. .! ... ..' || = MMil>iti[iiiti[iii[iiiiiii[iMiiiigitiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiritititiiiMiiiiiiiniiiillliiiiniiii'l>i[iMiiui titirititiiiMMMMiiMtiliiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiililiii rliltlililiitiiriiiiMiiiiiiiiNiltlilililtiiilMtillJliiiiiiitiiiitiiiitiMtriiiriiiiMiiiiiiiiNiiiiiiiiiiiijitiiiiiiMiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiijuii uimiiiiiiiiiimilijiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiminiiiiiiiii ! p/ii imiiMiiiiMiiMiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiimiiiiiiimiiiiimiiiiimitiMiiiiimiiiiiiiNH tiniiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiHiiiniiiiiimiiMiiiiniimiiiimMmmiii^imimiiimimiiMimiiimiimMiiiiimiiiMiiinimiiiimmnimiiiiiMimiiiminimm a , „ j

MEET ''Captain" G. F. Ste,wartBrysbn; The ' "captain," throughout. his.stay Tin Christchurch, 'was somewhat reticent iri openly discussing his career, iDeyorid: the • fact ... that he served for seven years . ( m the ' Royal Canadian Air Force, a unit, which, by the way, was not;' established, until after the war; ; ,"-'. ;■:'"' So successful was the7dashing officer with his, patter, however, that he was eventually featured, by the Christchurch "Star" as the prospective pioneer m the' : proposed trans-Tasman aerial mail and passenger service. There must, of course,, be pioneers m everything, but Bryson -is far from likely to figure as the founder of this service, while, .as a bluffer, he should know that there have been centuries of impostors long before he took it upon himself to hoodwink the public. . Where . members of the public, through, their own implicit faith m a bright personal 7 appearance and a suave. tongue, have allowed themselves to be imposed upon, -they naturally shun. publicity. ' *■. V • Hence some of those who have been the victims of Bryson's bluff • prefer to remain anonymous. ■ ' '. t ■ . :■'•■: , Investigations by "N:Z. Truth's" special Christchurch representative; however, have revealed Brysbri as an impudent and clumsy trickster so far llllllllllHllllllllllllllllHllllUltllHllllltlllllltlHlltlllltlllllllllllllHllHllHlilllMUltlllinitltinDlllllllllllHltl

urn v i „ iiiii " as his claims m the world of aviatioi are concerned. . In support of its policy of protectioi for the publio, "Truth" does not hesi tate to make known the results Of it: investigations. i It is believed that Bryson original!? came from Palmerston North, but s< far as Christchurch is concerned h< appeared on the surface about si: weeks ago,, when he arrived from tin north with a number of supporters win were accompanying the . Wairarap; Ranfurly Shield team oh its Soutl Island tour, towards the end of July Bryson booked m at the Cecil Hpte with the other members, of the part: and immediately introduced himself t'< the proprietress, Mrs.. Price, with th< information that 'he had stayed m tin house a year ago. Two weeks later, Mrs. Price sold ou to the former proprietress, 'Mrs. .McLennan, who recognized Bryson as i guest who had obtained a shakedowi arid breakfast on August 12 last year when the house wSs ".crowded witl visitors f pr the"? Grand National meet': ing. This was the extent pf his. staj last year. „ -.7' ••■'''■ It is significant, ' however, that when booking m >on the occasion , of his historic visit this year, he - endorsed the guests' register as G. F. Bryson, but a couple of days later assumed the title of, "Captain G. F. Stewart- Bryson,". not forget--7 ting the hyphen. '? Within a very short space 'of time ii was common, knowledge among the guests 'that -the- charming 'and affable ypurig fellow with the dark brush-bacl and' the patent leather shoes was i Canadian Air Force'pilot. ■'. • But the best of good things ; mus cpme td an end. His gushing. and voluble manner eventually hnpressedno a few of the guests at the.hptei tha his stories of . flying Experiences ii Canada .were so much fiction. \,T;'-. Not deterred, the dashing yburig ac< continued to play his cards, . but hii subsequent-actions m connection wit! aeroplanes and their\ uses are hardlj consistent with these of an; experiencec pilot, .'whos.e interest you, would expec to be wholly m his. profession. ■Bryspn kept cpnveniently clear ,o

the "Wigram aerodrome at Sockburn, but had one or two conversations m the city with Captain Findlay, the offl-.. cer-in-charge. of the . Canterbury avia-' tion base. ' ■ ■-'. ] He told Captain Findlay that he was a New Zealander trained m Canada and was full of ideas of what he wanted to do, while, on one occasion he even went so far as. to investigate the possibilities of securing a position in' the New Zealand Air Force. • ' Reference to the official lists of both the Imperial Air Force and the Royal

Air Force of Canada . failed to disclose any trace of Bryson's name. It mayT be, of course, that his name, if entitled to

appear m the list, was omitted by error, but these things seldom happen. On another occasion Bryson fell, into conversation., with a ' guest at the hotel and found, no doubt to his surprise and discomfort, that the guest was also an airman. * — .' An invitation was accordingly extended to Bryson to yisit the aerodrome that afternoon and the guest ; even went to the. trouble of calling for the "captain" m a car.' It is. safe to assume that any pilot with seven years' overseas experience llltllllllllltHllUllllltVVlllllllltllltlllllllHllltlllllllllllllltllUlllllltilltltltlllllllllMllllllltllllllllllltlllllllHlllll

i i I v v n would be only too glad of the opportunity of flying m another country n especially the land of his birth, if orilj - to test the disparity m atmospherics s between here and Canada, but Bryson's reply to his host was that "it was a bii y cold for flying that afternoon and he o would see him again." c During his residence at the Ccci x Hotel, Bryson became on quite friehdlj c terms with certain members of the doo mestic staff. a.. .■■ "When Mrs. McLennan took over the h house, she earned his displeasure r\_ through her injunction to him to keej si away from the kitchen. V The "captain," however, persisted 0 and to prove the depth of his genuine c friendship for the female members ol c the kitchen staff, he' decided to make out a will leaving his entire estate tc t them. " According to his own version, he had a £750 m ,'cash and.va life insurance pol- . ■ icy which would have become the pro- ■' perty of "the 1 beneficiaries had he . flopped into "the Tasmah on his" pro- " posed flight. T ■ ' ;,. B.ryson .even went to the extent oi talking the matter over w*ith a solicitor who happened to be at the house . Upon the solici- ' ■ ■ • -■

tors inquiry as to ; whether '.the life policy was genuine and paid up, Bryson significantly drop- , ped the "proposal

and for the present, at 1 any rate, the 3 kitchen : maids are not beneficiaries m s the estate of G. F. Stewart-Bryson; ;* .-.■'•lt is rather difficult to reconcile his iclaim to having £750 m cash with his , action m .decamping from the hotel arid leaving; three weeks' board unpaid.' " •■ All the proprietress has m chattel * security as "an offset .to'Bryson's board v is a cheap suitcase Tcpntaining a pair "" of 'shoes, some soiled, garments, one of her own towels and a. cake of hotel c spap. . " ' ' But the "captain" is not a single-. ™ banded artist. He has many strings £ to his bow, so it was not j surprising to see him taking the. tickets at the door x of a, shop m Cashel .Street, .m which an endurance piano-playirig challenge 1 contest- was being staged by an old m friend, "Professor" Montecirio, and aniii ■• . ■ ■ '.■•.■• .- , t other man, who' now has a grievance :' against 7Bryspn." 7 ■ 7 7 - .:. ■ ' The second party to the. piano-play-ing, marathon is a recent arrival m • Christchurch; Ashe hasnow, given up long-distanpe playing £o enter into business, he prefers, to remain anonymous, .so we -wiir call him "X." ..-\ He was taking his meals at the Hotel.'Cecii at the time arvd7met : Bryson. there. • ' ."■•'•■'•■ .Telling his story ;' to "Jruth," "2L"

Mafyhg His Will

Dodging Publicity

gave some idea of how, easy it, was to fall for Bryson's polished method of approach. "I find it difficult to believe, even now,"" he said, "that Bryson was not genuine. He offered to assist me when I was ill and his assistance was of much benefit to me. "He had a very sympathetic expression and'l put his Inability to look one m the face down to shyness when I first met him. -.''..". • "He appeared, however, to be uneducated ' and his careless mariner of

speech was hot what one would expect from an iofflcer with so riiany years' training m the Air Force of any country." - '.-■■

"X," who is an accomplished pianist by ear, staged a challenge match with Mpntecino at Invercargill and the Cliristchurch effort, was m. the nature of a return match; As a money- raiser it was a wash-out for him. ' • The Christchurch piano-playing marathon . commenced on Thursday, August 9, but' after fifty-one hours' playing "X" was stopped by a doctor, as he had been suffering from illliealth.. It was at this stage, that Bryson's management was performed with much success. He befriended his sick col- ■■_ " » iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiimiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiii|iiiiiiniiiitiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiuitiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiii:i!iiiiuii

iiiniiiiiniiiumimi lillllllllllllllltllllHll - league to such an extent by persona , care and attention that the pianis 7 felt under some obligation to Kirn. 3 At one afternoon session, during th--3 performance, while Bryson was takini t money. at the door on his friend's ac 3 count,' he 'stated that the taking 5 amounted to £4/17/6, adding that h--1 would go and bank this sum m hi 7, own name or would lodge it for saf - - keeping with the proprietress of thi hotel. ' . •/''"',.. 3 It was a pretty solid, fifty-one - hours for "X," however. He has **■ never seen a penny for his share of the contract, while he is some >' , £12. out of pocket through paying j the rent m advance. [ "That £4 17s.>6d. belongs to me," .hi ' said, "and- 1 want it. •'. < "Bryson took charge of it for me am I have" riot seen any of it since." " Following: the Christchurch match * Bryson continued to take a kindly m '" terest m ' "X" and offered to managi J- him m a '.further' match with^Montecini - atTGpre. : „ , .*' . It "would., be probably infra' dig.,;: how ' ever, for an Air Force . officer to/bi ■ prompting marathon piano contests, 1 s< . he suggested th&t he had' better change - - his name, mention

ing .Stewart as. : suitable, pseudonym tThe ;piece-de-re , sistance . of Bryson' hectic six.weeks ii Christchurch 7 ar

rived on Thursday of last week, whei tbe "Star" came out with an announce ment m its aviation news at the- '.fob of the latest, bulletin from Kingsfore Smitb. ' / . '7- 7' : The title of the article, an'- interview with Bryson, contained the "captain's' opinion that the passenger route woulc be quite. safe on the proposed Trans--Tasma'n service. ' .', '.!' The inte.rview : stated,- inter alia:. '*T< join Xieutbnant Ray Parer and Lexiui Burlington m their contemplated fligh 1 across the Tasman tp New . Zealand ii ,a ' Ryan-.' aeroplane, 7 Captain G. ., F .Stewart-Bryson; will /leave - Christchurch tbrnight to join, the Marama a Wellington '■■■.'"_ ."; , •'' ■ -. f ' "'-'. '; .',,•.''• ; '*''• '■■■■■' '■ '' . But what has happened m the meantime .''i-to'-r- Captain ■■.. G. 7F. Stewart- Bryson [?v.. , Tr No passeri'geiS'Pf that name by the Wah{rie v to ' Wellington thai night. If the "captain" was ,on board he must have been travelling.- uridei an assumed name.. ' ..' . This, surely, .is -most unusual procedure—or was Bryson travelling incognitp to avoid nerve-wracking interviews with enterprising journalists anc unsought notoriety?.. ' " 7 , - . If ; Bryson' was^ on the ferry" steamer it was certainly not iri the person oJ Captain- G. F; Stewai-trßrysoh, prqs-

pective pioneer of the traris-Tasman aerial service. .If he did hide his iden- , tity, what was his reason? . , Bryson now has the opportunity .of establishing his bona fides as a genuine airman. : , - ->. •>. ' " He certainly has some elementary knowledge of the mechanism of aero- j planes, for he talked fluently with a technical aspect, but, his efforts to put 1 his knowledge, to the test m the -air were very puny— rat least, so far, as his presence m Canterbury was concerned. While m residence at the Cecil Hotel, Bryson, became a regular bore. He even had the temerity to condemn Kingsford Smith and Ulm as "stunt" merchants and novices , at the. flying game. " •• ' . That his own stunt • had been seen through, was proved by an old theatrical' performer of many years' standing, who, Tone .night, m the lounge, called his bluff' and advised him .to "shut up" before he was found out. 7 But there is no holding some 'people. Bryson gained further notoriety by inducing the local daily papers to publish his offer to add to the thrilling and, spectacular arrival of Kingsford" Smith arid Co. by making a descent from' one : of the Wigram 'planes m a parachute. Fortunately, no doubt, for them- < trepid, publicity-seeking "captain," his offer was.not taken, advantage ■ of. 7 ' ; v.,S- ,7 * iiiiiiiiiiiniiiiMiiniiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

iiinnniiiiiiiiiHiiiuiiiiiiitniiiiiiniiiiiiHiiiiiMuniiiiiiiiitiiiitiiiiiiniiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiß iniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiuiiuiiiniuiiiiiuiiuijjiiuiif l1 Following the announcement of his t pending departure. for Wellington, the proprietress of the hotel took the ope portunity of presenting Bryson with g his account for three weeks' board. - Friend Bryson, however, had some s pressing engagements elsewhere, so. the' c hostess- accepted some small measure s. of security by appropriating his suite case.^which she found m his room, ale ready packed. ; „ . . . As previously mentioned; it. contalnr ed the hetel tpwel and soap, which gives some indication of the character of Captain Stewart-Bryson. It also contained a. soiled pair of gaudily-striped, pyjamas, a pair. of. par tent leather shoes, some soiled shirts and collars, and a slightly- worn blue 6 suit. . ' : '•'.. ' If Bryson hoped . to come m by the d back entrance ; later at, night' arid get 'his bag, jhe was. acutely disappointed, i, for. the, bag and its contents were ,se^ - curely Rocked m ',the office overnight. c And th^e they remain. .;. b, -A. representative of ."Truth," desirous of investigating the bona fides of tbe - gallant "airman," called at the hotel c on the morning following the , an0' nquncement m the "Star." c On inquiring if the "captain" had - really ,'left f or Wellington, as anriounc-y a ed, the investigator was- met with v a i. knowing smile "by the proprietress. "'.X, Bryson still has the oppprtunity of s liquidating 'his. liability,, but. to 'vanish ri from his ho^ei, leaving his,. bill unpaid - and no word' of. his likely returns-is Tfar o. removed from the conduct expe'oted of - a captain of 'the Canadian 'Air Force. j Bryson is a sturdily-built '"•' young : man about twenty-eight v years of age. He is very dark,, with „ a full face," bushy black hair' and 3 eyebrows. .He is somewhat pimply about , the -^countenance and had a ~" .' dark growth on the point of Jhe '- • o chin.; .; , ■■■; ,;■. i ;." J;7.; ' s .He may have a perfectly reasonable t excuse to offer fer his eccentric bey havior' m Christchurdh, but m [.the '.' meantime, the. public'^ should beware -, lest his iriipudent pranks take further t toll . of the good n,atur<3 and tolerance of unsuspecting members of ■ the coriimunity. ' •'.. .'■... .-.' ' "' ■'■ '