FALSE PRETENCES?

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 17, 13 February 1909, Page 6

FALSE PRETENCES?

THE CHARGE AGAINST MAY HALLEI'T. INTERESTING EVIDENCE. The most talked-of woman in New Zealand at the present time is May Hallett. It is a very long time since any ease before the courts has occupied tsuch a place ia the public interest as does the cliarge against this vouii" woman of having obtained by false pretences the sum of £SO froin a man who is well known tliroiignout the Dominion (says the Wellington Times) When, lust week, May Hallett. alias Curtain, alias Maker, alias Bunnernnui, ■was remanded to appear before .Mr W. G. liiddell, *M. at the City Police Court on Wednesday, there were hundreds who made the morning engagement for that day a visit to the space "behindl the bar " in the Court-room.

When the name of May Hallett was at last called, the crowd stretched its neck and whispered in an awed tone io itself us a slight young woman of verv good appearance, well attired in a light dress suitable to the heat of the dnv, walked briskly across the Horn- ami st oped daintily inlo the dock. As she tinned round and faced the tiowcl, May Hallett was by far the coolest person in (lie mum-in every sense.

The charge read against her was that on January 25th. lllll'.l. she did obtain of and from'one Walter Clifford the .Mini of £SO by means „f « false pretence, to wit. a representation that she was a niece of Sir Henry Cunipboll-Bannci'inaii. Mr Wilfonl appeared on the accused's behalf, the prosecution being in the hands of Chief Detective Broberg.

THE WHOLE STORY. ■• The story of the accused's career, or thai part of it told by the witnesses for tile prosecution, was an extremely strange one. The Hist mention of her that was made was when, two years ago. she was a barmaid in a Loudon hotel. There, amongst her clients, -was one William Cocniastcr, a laborer, who now resides at Brooklyn, Wellington. About thirteen months ago Co'cmaster came to Now Zealand as boatswain on the steamer Fifoshirc. and amongst the steerage passengers on the boat, he says, was M.v/ iiailett, whom he had known as "Miss May" in the days when she served in a Loudon bar. May Hallett left the boat at Auckland, and since then, so far as the present case is concerned, nothing more was heard of her until a few weeks ago. AT THE GRAND HOTEL? On the morning of January 20th of this year a young woman culled at the Grand Hotel, Wellington, and engaged accommodation for herself and E. ,i. Ilannerman. In the afternoon she had a conversation with the proprietor of the hotel, Mr J. Beveridge, in the course of which—according to Mr Beveridge—she stated that she was in great trouble. She had just arrived that day lroni Christchurch, aud her luggage liad been left behind her. Mr Beveridge therefore telegraphed in Christcliurch to make enquiries. The young woman, whom Mr lleveridge afterwards .ecogwsed in the person of May Hallett, did not say directly that she was the relation of anybody in particular, but one day she said to Mr Beveridge that she hoped that it would not come out that sot; was related to Sir Henry Campbeil-Ban-nerman, as people iu the house might 1 lake too much notice of her. And so it was that May Hallett settled down as a guest in the Grand Hotel.

IN' "SOUKIT." The Wellington Racing Club's summer meeting was being held at the Lime, and amongst those who were eiitenani-

ing a house party for the occasion was .Mr Walter Clifford, of Ifobson street. May Hallett became acquainted with several members of Mr ('Milord's family and party, and on Thursdav, January 21st, left a card at the house, bearing the name "Miss Caiiipbell-Jtannerman." She also arranged to take some of Mr (Milord's party to the races on the following Saturday in her motor car. It was raining heavily on that day. and

May Hallett called" at Mr Cl'ill'iird's house in the morning. It was then that Mr Clifford met .her for the first time. It was much too wet, she said, for them to go out to the l'liiya in her car. and lliey had better go in the train. Mr Clifford invited her In form one of his parly, and she consented. At the raceMr Clifford did not see a great ileal of her, but he had a conversation with her. 'n the course of which, iie savs. sliev -aid that her father. Mr Campbell-Ran-nerinan, was down south, looking at some .property. She did not make any

direct reference to her alleged high connections at Home. On (lie Tvi'atham railway station, as they were leaving for Wellington, Mr Clifford introduced the vonng woman to his brother Sir 'ieo'ge Clifford, as Miss Campbell-Ban-

ucniian. After the luce's she went with Mr Clifford's partv in the house, and left soon after for'her hotel. Th> next night (Sunday) she again failed at his house, and spent an hour or two with them. MR CIJFFOIiI) IS (iKXEllors. The next occasion on which Air Clifford saw " Miss Camplicll-lianncnnan ' was on the Mondav following. She called for him at 'the' Wellington Club, and when he went to the door be found her in a handsome with another woman. She was fumbling a piece of paper, and, according to Mr Clifford, said, "Oh ! Mr i'lilTord, I'm in great r».ilicuUics. Father lias onlv left me enough nioucv lop.iv (he hotel bill, ami I have to'pav the 1>.1.C. and other bills before J leave for Christchucli this evening. Will you kindly telegraph to my father af Chi'ist-

-hurch and" Had out his address'; lie is I<Vmg down South." "Mr Clifford renlied. "Why trouble him ? Can I asist v«H?" "Tf you can lend me £SO I will send it back- to vou to-morrow, after 1 have seen father'." was Miss May 'lallefl's replv. Mr Clifford arranged lo

meet her at the bank, and she drove oil'. IMr. Clifford walking. lie got C.V) from Ihe bank, and then, he savs. handed her over the mon. 1. She suggested

ihat he should telegraph io his brolber. Si,- fleorire Clifford, lo find mil where her father was. She called af Mr Clifford's for lunch later the same dav. and was still there when Mr Clifford left shortly after 1 o'clock. He never saw her again until she was placed h the dock and charged with getting money front him by a false pretence.

IX THE DOCK. Such was the story of May lfallell) and her adventures in Wellington, as I old by the witnesses in the Police Court. The actual proceedings were lull of interest—at times almost dramatic

and were followed with rapl attention bv the large crowd present. During the bearing of the evidence the accused sat

'n the dock with a cheerful, confident look on her face. At times, when some particular point was being made by tire witnesses, she would smile ill an amused kind of way especially when mention would be made of her visiting cards, her motor car, or her introduction to Sir; (icorgc Clifford. The evidence of William C'oemasler was obviously a great siiriin'se to her. as it was to' everybody else. She had been moving in' high

society, and Ihe advent, of a labourer on her horizon seemed to stagger her. When he entered the box she assumed a puzzled expression, which changed lo one of deep concern as he tillered Hull he had known her us "Miss May" i.i a London bar. She smiled agai.i a little ■when he had left the box.hut her careless, happy expression did not return until aflcr Detective Cassells had staled that he knew of her. The accused was committed for trial.