LORD W. NEVILL FREE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9114, 6 April 1908, Page 7

LORD W. NEVILL FREE.

STORY OP INGENIOUS FRAUD.

Lord William Nevill was released from Wormwood Scrubs Prison February 12th, after serving 10 months out of a 12 months’ sentence for stealing £350 worth of jewels. He had earned 60 days’ remission by good conduct. The release did not take place at the ’ordinary hour in the morning. His lordship apparently waited until the crowd which always gathers around the prison gates had disappeared. Arrangements had evidently been made for his departure. About halfpast nine a taximeter cab arrived at the prison. The gates were opened, and the cab disappeared within to presently reappear with a passenger inside—Lord William Nevill. His lordship at once drove to his father-in-law’s house in Eaton Place. Lord William Nevill is the Marquis of Abergavenny’s fourth son, and was born in 1860. His wife was Miss Louise Maria Carmen de Santnrce, bead of the great financial house of Murrieta, and his wedding at the Brompton Oratory in 1889 was attended by the King, then Prince of Wales. It is worthy of note that through all Lord Nevill’s troubles his wife has stood by him resolutely. The offenod for which Lord Nevill was sentenced last April was an ingenious one. After pawning some jewels with Messrs Miller and Fitch, of Sloane Square, Lord William Nevill sent for Mr Filch, saying that he wanted to consolidate his pledges. He asked Mr Fitch to bring with him all the jewels that he had pawned, and also a new contract form. When the pawnbroker arrived Lord William produced a box, put the jewels into it, tied it up and . sealed it with the Nevill arms. He then asked the broker for an envelope. ' There was some difficulty in finding one. First the broker looked, and then Lord William, who went behind Mr Fitch and got what he wanted. The “box” was put into an envelope, and handed to Mr Fitch. Some time after Mr jjFitch’s partner died, and the box was opened. It contained two pieces of coal. Arrest and trial at the Olerkenwell Sessions followed. Lord William pleaded that he never intended to deprive the pawnbroker of his £350, ■ but the jury found the prisoner guilty, and sentence was passed. The only witness for the defence at the trial was Lady William Nevill, who deposed that she had a private income “well over four figures,” derived from Spanish mines and her interest in the house of Murrieta, of which she was a daughter; that at various times she had redeemed pledges for-her husband, who had no income except what she gave him; and that she Was always in a position to [pay the money due to the pawnbrokers.. Lord William’s first conviction in 1889 was for fraudulently inducing a friend, Mr Herbert Spender Olay, then in the 2nd Life Guards, to affix his name to papers which he used for the purpose of raising money from - the late Mr Saw Lewi?, the wellknown money-lender. For that he was sentenced to five years’ penal s-A vitr.de.