A PSEUDO-LORD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 182, 31 January 1914, Page 5

A PSEUDO-LORD.

LAID BY THE HEELS. A DRAMATIC STOItV. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellingtoji, Last Xig'ht. The (Eliminating point in u highlydramatic story was reached yesterday, when, on the arrival of the H.M.S. Aorangi from San Francisco, a young man known to the New Zealand police as Evelyn Vine Kidson, was arrested by Detectives Andrews and Dempscy. Tiie charge labelled against accused, however, does not give any indication of the adventurous story in which accused is believed to have., figured. It is merely that he did obtain i'B 10s from Sclmeideyiann Bros., at Hamilton, by false pretences, to wit, a valueless cheque for .CIO. The incident- is alleged to have occurred at Hamilton on September 22nd last. Interesting facts, however, of happenings in other countries were gathered by a Times reporter on board the Aorangi on her arrival yesterday. The man Kidson is alleged to be the same person who in America called himself "Peveril Ker." On October 2 of last year Ker arrived at 'Frisco by the WilJochra from Wellington, and immediately posed as somebody lie really was not. He chose spectacular men and methods in 'Frisco, and on board tho Willoehra, he .told everybody that he had been touring Australia and was returning to England via America. On •the steamer he travelled second-class, but he eschewed the companionship of passengers in that part and mingled on the quarter-deck with those of the firstclass cabins. AmonjJ those lie made many friends. On arrival at 'Frisco lie went to the St. Francis, the best hotel in tho city, and engaged a suite of two rooms at 10 dollars n day. The same rooms were occupied by Madame llellia a few months before, and are famous in the hotel as "the notables." The evening of his arrival he gave a dinner in a private dining-room to seven of his newly-made acquaintances of the steamer. For some time he was the centre ol much attraction among the other guests. He signed his name on the register as "limes Ker," and passed a card through the cashier's window, ■bearing the words "Lord PeveriJ I lines Ker." He told the clerk at the same time that 'lie was a brother of the Duke of Roxburgh. "His Lordship's" troubles begun early. The day after landing, the manager ot tho St. Francis Hotel refused f o cash n cheque for "2.10 dollars. After some, discussion, in which the newcomer talked airily of his family estates, he was allowed to draw a cheque for -"iO dollars on the First Xational Hank. Miien that institution refused to honor the cheque an explanation was demanded, :iud Ker claimed that he had a draft of C2OOO on its way from Australia lo 'l'risco, and it must have been delayed. Then Ihe decided to return to Xew Zealand, and came by the Aorangi. The police were aware of Kidson's movements, and several detectives waited for him to day when the ship berthed. He. however, walked eoollv fhrough them. ilUguNed as a. ship's officer. Later lie was found vomiting, having taken poison. .Medical aid was summoned, and remedial measures taken, after which Kidson v.vs taken into custody.