Footman as Peer.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7887, 1 August 1905, Page 4

Footman as Peer.

BOOL'S LORD VICTIMISES NEW YORK .SOCIETY. An English footman is said to have victimistd New York society and decamprd with" £30,000. He called himself successively Willoughby, Middleton, and Lord Middleton, ajrd Lord Enniskellm. He first ilecame known in financial circles by organising the New York Real Estat« Company, in which he Induced shareholders to invest largely. His financial scheme successfully floated, he secured thv option wiili temporary possession on a fine estate at Scar dale, near the mansions of the Goulds, the Rockefellers, and Cym Field. There he lived very carefully, an.! became popular socially, being intro ducrd to all the wealthy people of the neighbourhood by the wife of a prominent resident. He became very friendly with Miss Helen Gould, whom he assisted in many of iK'i charitable works. He planned a great reception, to Jrhlch he invited 500 guests. This | was in honour of his sister, Lady i Flora Hamilton, who, he said, was | coming to America near the end of j May. On the ground that she had been delayed be cancelled all these invitations. He has now decamped with £30,OOfl. It has transpired that he is the son of a servant to a British noblemil, ami that he himself has been a footman. He has also been imprisoned in Canada for bigamy. One peculiarity was always noticed ib his-habits. He slept on the floor in rugs. He explained that this wa? a characteristic of all the members of the Willoughby family.