AMY THE ADVENTURESS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9438, 7 May 1909, Page 3

AMY THE ADVENTURESS.

SOME FURTHER INCIDENTS. THE “BRIDB”~AND “BRIDEGROOM’.’ PACE THE CAMERA. AMY’S PHOTO NEEDS TOUCHING UP. SOME INTERESTING LETTERS. Referring to Amy Bock’s escapades. the Dunedin Star gives the foiowing additional particulars : Accompanied by “his’’ mother-in-law elect and intended bride, Percy Redwood recently visited the studio of Mr Pattillo, in George-atreet, and stating that he was to be married a week later, surrendered to tho photographer, and separate pictures of the bride and bridegroom were taken. The proofs, which had been forwarded to the Nuggets, were re turned, accompanied by the subjoined note, in handwriting which might reasonably be presumed to have been penned by a man Nuggets, Port Molyneux, April 15th, 1909. Mr. W. Pattillo, Dunedin. Dear sir,— Will you kindly piint off and send to me as early as ‘ possible . half-dozen each of photos (cabinets) as per proofs enclosed. You will notice that my vest gapes a little in front.. If possible,, please stop it out. Kindly let us have those 7 two miniatures as soon as possible. Yours very truly, P. O. Redwood. . “HER MOTHER’S” LETTERS. The following extracts are made from further letters written by Frances Redwood (the supposed mother of Percy Carol Redwood) to Mrs Ottaway : "lam a comparative stranger to you, dear Mrs Ottaway, but yon know Carol well now. He has been a good son, and although it is his mother who says so, still yon may believe me that yon will not find a more honourable or more loving man in our Dominion. We are all very to know, that he has made his choice at last, and yon can be sore your daughter will be most lovingly, welcomed amongst us, and I pray that God will abundantly bless their union when it shall take place, and that He will guide them in all their ways. My darling boy is not too robust. I suppose he has told you that he is a twin. But do not think for a one moment that there Is any organic disease, for there is not. Carol has always led a'clean life, which is a great thing for people to say nowadays. , . . . “I only wish my dear husband could have been spared to rejoice in his hoy’s happiness. But who knows? He may, indeed, even now be rejoicing from bis Heavenly Father’s home, for God doeth all things well, and we can trust our beloved ones to Him. never doubting. “God doetlr all things well, and He"ordereth our doings, and it will not be long before we meet, and I do pray that my darling boy and your dear Nessie may have His blessings attendant on their wedded life, and that they may ever walk in His paths, which are the ways of wisdom, of pleasantness and of peace.” To her son she gave strict advice about engaging a firm of solicitors to act for him : “And I will pay to them the amount of £3500 I promised yon. Regarding the house you wrote to me about, Mrs Ottaway and I will go and see it when I come down. And now, my darling boy, do not think for one moment that it Is want of love for you or dear Nessie that has prevented me being with you; but it is just as God has ordered things for us, so that, perhaps, they are not exactly what we should have wished for, bnt, still, what He does is for the best. I shall be at the Nuggets to meet you both on your return from Melbourne, and a glad and hapfry meeting that is to be. May God’s best blessings attend you, and that He may guide you both in all your ways is the prayer of your loving mother,” In a later letter she writes:— “Dear^arol,— Your club has given me a most'-bsantiful dinner service for you, the Fraser family a lovely afternoon tea service, the Sharland family a handsome overmantel, and there are a host of others.” Amy was at one time an inmate of the Oaversham Industrial School. She was then about eighteen. She then batched some scheme to be licensed to some imaginary aunt in Canterbury, who had written some beautiful letters to the master of the institution, and also some touching letters to her repentant niece. Some of these letters could not be excelled in the way of giving advice to an erring niece. However, that little scheme failed in realisation, the aunt’s address never having been accurately located. Nothing was heard of Amy for some time after her release from the Industrial School, when she would be about 21. Some years after several peculiar frauds were reported to the police by some tradespeople. They were “taken in” over a bogus wedding, or something of that. sort. The police were inquiring all round. A detective found Amy with a highly respectable and religious family, who thought her the most Godfearing young woman they ever saw. She sang hymns and psalms with thera'every night. They were highly indignant at the shocking blander by the horrible police in even suspecting such an exemplary person of crime. While she was preparing to acopmpany him, the detective heard the mistress of the house whispering something to her about a gold watch. The detective thus narrates the incident I asked the woman what about the watch, but she sharply told me it was none of my business—that the watch was all right. I. however, continued the subject until I found she gave it to the young lady to take to a watchmaker for repairs. I inquired the name of the watchmaker. Amy gave me a name. I suggested to the owner it might be advisable to see tho watchmaker without delay. She told me I was too suspicious altogether, and that they would see justice was done to this exceedingly nice young person, etc. This lady’s sou attended Court next morning to see justice,, done to the innocent. I told him his mother’s watch was not in the watchmaker’s shop; that lie denied ever seeing it. Amy stoutly maintained that she had given it to him. Solar as I can remember, 1 took Amy and the young man face to face with the watchmaker to point out the man she gave it to. She was, still positive she gave it to him, while he as positively denied ever seeing her. About half an hour

afterwards I found the watch; id a pawnshop. Still her friends could hardly bring themsolvek to believe such a person would do such a thing? I think this was the first time she was in the hands of the police in Otago. Some time afterwards she got into a gentleman’s house about the NorthEast Valley. The family went away on a holiday, when 1 she either sold the piano or got a loan on it. She defrauded several other people, including the Dunedin Evening Star people. Indeed, 1 heard many years ago she never once failed with people that did not know her before. There is one thing, said the detective, I must say in her favour. I never once heard even a suggestion of any improper conduct on her part—and in those days I usually heard as much as the majority of people. There is no doubt whatever but she is a most uncommon young woman. She is very clever, and in my opinion would make an exceptional novel writer. Her manner was always -gentle and agreeable, and she never had too ranch to say. I wonder if she ever had a trial of the “Magdalen Home?” They are said to be very,, successful with some people. Something should he done for her this time. I think there must he some touch of insanity about her all the time. v