GIFTS FOR KING.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 March 1920, Page 10

GIFTS FOR KING.

TICKET-OF-LKAVJv "PEER.? STRAJTGE VISITOR ATA XOBLEMAST'S MAKTSIOX. A man whom the InndMi police say 3< on iiokct-of-leavp is bslievtsl to hari posed as a pw>.r and baronet, and obtained valuable sritidea, osfeensiMy as pres ents for royalty. He is James Douglas, although fcnowi by several aliases, and ■wss charged al Westminster recently with a number o; rases of robbery, fraud, and false pretences. Here is the story as reported it the London dailies: — "I have not twopence in the world, mi that is why I did ii," he is reported to have confessed when arrested. Among the accusations against him ar( that, in the name of Vicomte Asseca, t, Portuguese nobleman, he obtained ax antique silver tankard from Messrs. Mappin and Webb, in order to make a presentation to the ex-King of Portugal. H« was further supposed to hare attempted to secure fraudulently a pearl necldact and candelabra valued at £ISOO, anil il was when a representative of the firm went to his house that deitecfiveß took Douglas into custody under dramatic circumstances. He was arrested in fashionable'apartments in Ennismore Garden, South Kensington, the residence of the vicomte, who is now in Portugal. Following on police suspicions being aroused, Detectives Marldiam and Ebsaiy went to the house, and, according to the evidence, found Douglas in the diningroom. He officers had ascertained thai he had negotiated for the tenancy, and obtained an agent's order to view "by representing himself as Sir Kenneth Douglas. Asked to show his credentials, he said: "I am Sir Kenneth Douglas, and I am taking this house furnished. lam waiting for my car. I could telephone to dozens of'people who could tell you who I am." At this junctoe the assistant from Mappin and Webb's entered the room to keep an appointment with regard to the ordered goods. Douglas was then asked about -tli£ silver tankard, hall-marked 1679, wind) he had obtained the previous day from tie same assistant. Replying to the Magistrate, DetectiveSergeant Markham said -prisoner had gone about with a hired Diamler motorcar, and imposed on house and estate agents as a person of title. Mr. Philip Conway, solicitor, said he was prosecuting for Messrs Barrett and Sons, jewellers and silversmiths, of Piccadilly, who had been defrauded of goods valued at £215. More astounding assurance than that of prisoner could not be imagined. To the firm he represented himself to be Sir Edward Boyle, Bart., who had rented the furnished residence of the Marchioness of Downshire at Charles Street, Mavfair. He said that the Marchionesß required five presents for her jockeys at Newmarket, and made a selection of gold cigarette cases and other valuables to be sent to her house. At that time it was in the hands of estate agents, from whom he obtained an order to view. He arranged that, when the goods were delivered, he should be there. Accordingly, wher. the representative of the firm called to see Douglas he asked for Sir Edward Boyle, and the unsuspecting footman admitted him. Prisoner, with the greatest deliberation and nonchalenee, inspected the goods, and sent the messenger back to obtain another gold cigarette case. Following this success, on another day he hired a pair-horse brougham for an hour and went to the prosecutor's shop for more goods, which included a crocodile suitcase valufed at £BS. When it was discovered'that the prisoner's equipage was only "a job lot," the Teal Sir Edward Boyle, of Queen's Bench Walk, Temple, was rung up on the 'phone, and the fraud was discovered. Prisoner was sentenced to a lengthy term of imprisonment.