CAUGHT AT LAST.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 292, 22 August 1888, Page 5

CAUGHT AT LAST.

MRS OOKDON-BAILLIE KEDIVIVUS. The Jong' and adventurous caieer of the extraordinary woman who is known to most of you as Mis Uordon-Baillie, has at" last received a serious check. Three months ago, when the papers were for a time full of her, it was generally anticipated she would be arrested. The "Star" and one or two other journals clamoured for a public prosecution, and everyday we expected to hear of her appearance at Bow-street. Then all of a sudden, and without any explanation, the newspapers dropped the subject. At the clubs various stories were cuiTent, one of them being that Mr Stead, melted by his lair contributor's promises of amendment, had intervened to provide her with another chance. This was only partially true. Someone did intervene, but not Mr Stead. Mrs 13. 's fiiend "wa.s an old Bohemian, a leader-writer on one of the biy dailies, and a person of considerable influence in press circles. When Mrs GordonBaillie found the chase getting too hot, she appealed to this gentleman for help. He could not do at/reaf deal, but he did manage to persuade " Tay-Pay " and one or two le«eer lights to abandon the hue and cry. Some of Mrs B.s creditors wove veiy vindictive, but her Inends (and she h.is friends, her /ac/ies notwithstanding) atlength managed to cieatu the impression that she had goo safely out of England, and that pursuit was hopeless. The pi'ivate detectives, when informed that the lady was to have another chance, observed cynically, " She'll soon break out in a ire&h place, and then the police will have her. Once brought up before a magistrate, and she's done for." Mrs B. herself muse have known this well, and it makes her subsequent conduct seem simply insane.

WHERE MRS U.-B. HID HERSELF. Whilst Mrs Gordon -Bail lie's creditors and victims were groaning over the escape of that lady and her aoi-cli&anf husband to Spain, the eccentric pair were settling quietly down afc Westminster, and preparing for a new raid on local tradesmen within a few hundred paces of Scotland Yaid itself. J To be safe it was, however, essential that neither Mr Frost nor Mrs B. should figiue too prominently in the new transactions themselves, so a humble confederate, one James Gigner, was impressed. Servants &eem invariably attached to Mrs G.-B. (I mean, of course, male servants). She docs not pay them their wages certainly, but as one much-tried gardener, whom she'd thoroughly " diddled," ob&orved : " Missus was that kind, and that haimiable, and that unfortunit we couldn't bo 'ard on her as we ought ter."

I AT THE POLICE COURT. There was quite a stir at Westminster Police Court on Monday week, when Mr* Gordon-Baillie, who was dressed with great taste in black s-ilk (half-mourning for Frederick III.), with a tight-h'tting fawn jacket and a coquettish little bonnet, and carried a lace handkerchief, a leviathan parasol, and a bouquet of choice roses, was placed in the dock beside her seedy-looking husband, Percival Frost, and iho butler Gigner. The three were described as of Palmer Lodge, Palace-street, and charged by Detective Inspector Marshall wijbh conspiring and confederating together to obtain divers sums of money with intent to cheat and defraud. There were four cases of obtaining provisions, coal, &c, by means of worthless cheques, against the prisoners. Detective-Inspector Marshall, Criminal Investigation Department, said that during the early part of last month he received complaints from persons who had been defrauded, • in reference to all three prisoners. He made inquiries, and found that the cheques complained of were signed Gordon-Baillie. He obtained a warrant for the prisoners, and on Saturday evening last saw the man leave Palmer Lodge in a brougham and go to different tradesmen's shops. Frost returned to the lodge in a carriage, and witness then repeatedly knocked at • the door before it was opened by Gigner, who said that Mr and Mrs Frost were out of town. He (Mr Marshall) went up and down stairs, and then Gigner hurriedly made for the break-fast-room, in which both the other prisoners were. He (the inspector) told all three to consider them-selves in custody, and asked Mrs Frost if she was not better known as Mrs Gordon- Bailie. She said " Yes." After reading' fch'e wai'rant she said, " How can it be conspiracy? Poor James (Gigner) has only done what he has been told. He is a servant, and a good one, too. Sit down and explain." He (the inspector) said, "It is alleged that you have conspired to defraud many people." In Pogson's (a butcher's) case, Gigner first went and made a small purchase, and Mr Frost followed it up with a letter, ' promising to pay . bills weekly.

Addressing* Mrs OJordon-Baillie, he told her that she gave the butcher a worthless cheque, and she acknowledged the signature, as also the signature on similar cheques, given to a dairyman and cornchandler (produced). Mrs Frost said with regard to the butcher's account it was only a 'iebt, and she went on to say that although there might be no money at hor bankors they had seciuities. After some further con vci nation, witno&s called in other olliccrs, who searched the prisoners. Cheques for £15 10& and 1)13, drawn by the female, were found, in Mr Frost's pocketbook. The men were taken to the station at once, but Airs Gordon-Baillio said .she was unwell, and could not bo removed. After remaining with hor five houib in the hou&e, and calling a doctor to examine her, witness conveyed her in a cab to the station. While she wat> in custody a Mist. Lloyd came to the hou&e and complained thai/ she had boon defrauded of a hat worth a guinea and a sum ot ,C 6 19s ghen in change for a worthless cheque for .€B. — Mr JJutton reserved the crosii-examina-tion, and Mr d'Eyncouit remanded tho prisoners. — Mv Uutton said fiom a firm of solicitors in Edinburgh the lad}' (Mrs CJordon-Biiillie) received an annuity fora number ot years. Until recently hor bankers had sccutitioo which enab'ed hor to overdraw her account. He a^ked that bail might be allowed. — Inspcctoi Muishall .'•aid that thcro would be many other charges. — Mr d'Eyncourt roiusod bail for all the prisoners, who then le,ft the dock, Mi'h Oordon-Baillic smelling a bouquot of roses which she had kept in hor lap duiing tho hearing of the cibe.

DETECTIVE MARSHALL INTERVIEWED. Mrs Gordon-Baillie was brouuht up again at the Police Court on Monday, and her case fairly gone into. Before this, however, I interviewed ])eccclivo Marshall, who has charge of the pio&ceution, and learnt much that was now and interesting. JrJo bays the public would be astounded if they could grasp tho extent of the Gordon Baillio frauds and the ingenuity with which they have been carried out. Every dupe heenib to have been niosO judiciously selected. Smart business folk Mrs G.-B. caiefully avoided. They would, she knew, be dangerous Small tradesmen, ignorant,, and hmisrcrinjifor custom, weio her commonebt victims. To show w hat I mean I may mention that one old fellow presented a dishonoured cheque of Mrs B. s no loss than six times, and even then blamed the Bank for refusing payment rather than Mrs B. for giving it him. Detective Marshall found the greatest diiliculty in persuading many oi the defrauded to prosecute. They wanted money, not revenge, they &aid, and it they locked the Frosts up, the last chance of getting the former commodity would be gone. Mr Frost's mother was a pers-n of means and position and might be persuaded to pay.

NEW ZEALAND BUTTER. Sir Francis Bell is advertising: for "thoioughly qualified persons acquainted with the best system of dairy tanning, and competent to instruct dairy Immers m Ne.v Zealand as to tho best methods of preparing their produce ior the English niaiket." Ho has received numerous replies, but the '' drawback to most of the applicants is that I they do not efficiently understand tho I necessities of the London maiket. The f Agent-General is now in communication I with Professor Lonij, ol Cnence&ler, on the subject, and will probably hnd the sort of pei sons required through his help. Up to the present (as 1 have more than once explained) New Zealand dairy produce has only proved indiilerenfcly successful. Against the cheese nothing can now be urged, save that the quality v.vies more than is desirable. Retailers do not, ab yot/, take very kindly to ib (1 quote the smartest cheesemonger in South Kensington), but the stores — the Army and Navy especially — soil large quantities. The "7d a pound New Zealand cheese " is, in fact, becoming a specialty at the Army and Navy Stoics. All I wonder is, what does the exporter get per lb for it ? The New Zealand butter, on the contrary, continues a failure. Often tho quality is or has been good, but it vaiiet so in colour and condition and make-up, that purchasers are often very dissatisfied. For example, a butteiman buys say 20 kegss or tubs> (or whate\er you call them) of New Zealand butter. The sample lie tasted suited him exactly, but he tinds halt the kegs aie not uniform in colour and other ! essentials with the sample. The butter may be good enough, but there is not enough salt in it, or too much salt in it, to suit his customerSjOrthe colour too nearly resembles that of margaiine. The consequence is ho's dissatisfied, and eschews New Zealand butter lor the future. The difficulties in the way of the trade are, howe\er, ouch as a few experts will, no doubt, -m oth away, and once New Zealand dairy pioduco gets a good name with our retailers its i future is assured.

PROFESSOR LONG'S VISIT. Since writing the foregoing, I leai n that Sir F. I). Bell is tvying to peiauadc i'lolebsor Long himself to vibit New Zealand and inquire into the dairy question. At pie&ent, the professor has not said either " yes "or " no," definitely. Much, indeed, will depend on whether the Minister ot Agricultuic Bill io passed thiough I'arhamenb this &eobion or during tho coming autumn one, as ho is almost certain to be the first person selected to till this important office. Amongst the colonial bi&hops at tho Man-sion House banquet, and the Archbishop of Canterbury's garden parly were the New Zealand Bishops of Auckland, Dunedin, Nelson, and Waiapu. Air Justin McCarthy has long wanted to visit Australia and Now Zealand. About 18 months ago, indeed, he absolutely arranged to accompany the Campbell PiaccU on an antipodean tour, but the allair tell through somehow. I hoar now that another Colonial-Irish .Home-Rule campaign like the Redmonds' is. in contemplation ior the coming recess, and that Mi McCarthy and his son, with perhaps Michael Davitt, are to be "stars" thereof. This will place colonists with strong convictions en the Irish question in a pretty quandary. They may teel that they would gladly welcome Mr McCarthy in his capacity of novelist and historian, but that they object to him as an Irish Home Ruler and qaa^i associate with criminals. Really and truly, I believe Mr McCarthy ia tho one Iri&h leader who has kept his hands perfectly clean, and who would have nothing to tear (pcn\«onally) from tho witness-box. The Chairman of the Birmingham School Board, Mr Geo. Dixon, M.Jt\, id about to tako a health trip round tho world in one of the N.Z.S. Company's boats.

A NEW ZEALAND ENOCH ARDEN. Eight years ago a young Dublin enginoer named Boyco fell in love with and married the daughter of a rich provision dealer in that city. The lady's father objected to the match on the ground of the bridegroom's impecuniosity, but matters were at last arranged satisfactorily, and the wedding duly took place. After the marriage coromony the whole party went" to Glendalough for a picnic. Sad to say, a good deal of the "crater" was consumed, and tho bride's father, waxing merry under its influence,

taunted his new son-in-law with the line match he was making. The bride also joined in the joke,whioh, - however, the bridegroom entirely failed to appreciate. Angi-y words foil owed, andeventually young Boy co, in a rage, betook himself oil. No ono thou^hb much ot the matter, bho bride and fafher oxpocting to .find the truant at home and penitent when' they returned. Ho was not, however, there; and it presently transpired he had taken the evening steamer to Liverpool. Day.s, weeks, monthsandat lastyears passed, yet Mrs Boyce heard nothing of her errant .spouse. Her father died, and she undertook the management of his business herself. Naturally, she had many suitors, but not feeling sure of Boyce's death she relused till this summer to listen to any of them. Then a persevering lover was accepted, and preparations made for another wedding. The happy day had, however, barely been fixed before the long-n;ifesing Boyco put in appearance in the city.

PERSONAL AND GENERAL. Sir Arthur Gordon is to be .succeeded in Ceylon by Sir William .Robinson, whom the " know-alls " of the Colonial Oilicc bad just decided was destined ior New Zealand. The " Impressions of Australia " by Mr Coutt° Trotter in thoJ<)lynumbcrof "Blackwood" are very diflcientstuflto ihcoidinary vapid platitudes ot fcho "globe trotter," and well worth reading. The " St. James's Garotte," speaking of the coming visit oi the Now Zealand tootball team, says : — ''After their experience oi playing together in the colonies, the Maoris are likely to arrive heie 'in torm,' and these who know them seem to think they will prove a difficult team even against the best Rugby tjftcen in this country. ' The Miss Knight who has been scoring .such a success as Esther in the revived " Pointsman " at the Olympic Theatre, is, I presume, the popular Australian actiess, and daughter ot Mr Knight, of Auckland. Lord William Ncvill, who created a sensation whilst visiting Australia tlnee years ago by joining the Catholic Church, did not, I hear, after all become a priest, lie went to Koine to bo blesaed, and even interviewed the Pope, but either the fates or His Holiness wore not propitious. Anyhow, the young man returned home without a tonsure, and in due time settled clown us a respectable wine merchant in the City, lie seems, in fact, to have found champagne prefeiablo to a cassock. I have it on the authority of the " Star " that old Bishop Bronsby (erstwhile ot Tasmania) was 15 yeais ago a school-teacher, ana that Mr Hugh Child ers, also destined to shine at the Antipodes, was his favourite and most promising pupil. Mr Ralfjh Stuart, described by the "Times" as "an Australian pianist of great promise," gave a successful recital at St. James's Hall on Saomday. The only complaint the critics make is that the programme was over-loaded with Chopin. It is earnestly hoped that the New Zealand trade societies will follow the lead of Victoria and send home a delegate to the International Trades Union Congress in November. The Australasian buyers of thoroughbred stock, who arc irencrally to tho fore at the Nowmai'ket July youi hug sales, were, this anniversary, conspicuous onl t > by absence. On the other hand, the lUvci Plate bleeders bid freely. One of the last living daughters of Musket, a mare called Mosquito, fetched 300 guineas. The Emigi ants' Information Office have recently despatched Mr Waller Paton (who edits the hand-books, etc., published by Government) to the South African and Australasian colonies on a tour of investigation. I hear that the shaies in Mr W. P. Morgan's Welsh gold mines have (notwithstanding the mining cngineeis' by no nie.ms sanguine report) been well taken up, and me already at a small premium. Mr Gerald Moore, an actor of groat promise, has fallen 1 a victim to consumption and been ordered away on a long sea voyage to your part of the world. The "Anglo-New Zcalander " has amalgamated with the " B. Australasian," and will in future be known by the latter name alone. The attempt to work an AngloColonial journal has hitherto, even under the most piomising auspices, proved a complete failure.