GREAT SCANDAL AT WANGANUI.

Observer, Volume 6, Issue 154, 25 August 1883, Page 3

GREAT SCANDAL AT WANGANUI.

Wanganui lias hitherto been mostly famed for lunatics and aqua fortis whisky. It has also earned a mild reputation for grass widows, incendiary fires, and obtained some notoriety as the Gretna Green of the North Island. But never since the ever-memorable elopement of a certain blonde Syren of the Loftus Troupe with a Plutocratic Southern Jason has the City of the Big Hirer been the scene of so startling a social sensation as occurred a fortnight ago. The local newspapers enveloped the incident with so much mystery that an outsider would hardly guess that for a whole week Wanganui had been in the throes of excitement over a scandalwn magnum, winch has completely thrown politics, and even the debates of the Town Board, into the shade. Thanks, however, to an argus-eyed correspondent, the Obseeveb has been j^laced in possession of all the unpublished facts of the case, and, in conformity with our policy of non-suppression, we give all th.9 essential facts that are proper for publication. «

A gentleman, named John Notman, who was for some years associated with Mr Ballance in the proprietary of the Wangauui Herald, was charged, on the 7th iust., by a woman named Clara Rankin, with having, on the previous day, entered her dwelling-house, in St. Hill-street, J and stolen therefrom a gold locket of the value of £2, and a£s note. Notman is agent for the local branch of an.lnsurance Company, and lias hitherto borne an unblemished character. He is one of the pillars of the church, a welcome guest in the best society of the place, the secretary and treasurer of various local bodies, a very much-married man, and altogether a high-toned moral man. and Christian example. Mrs Clara Rankin (nothing is said as to the existence of Mr Rankin) is a comely matron, who has been in

business as milliner and dressmaker for many years. Of her character we know nothing.

_ Ifc appears that Nofcman had been a frequent ■visitor at her house — in the way of business, it is presumed, — and had been on terms of friendship with, the lady. But about 18 months ago she met with one of those misfortunes that are so common in Wanganui — her house was burned down. Thereupon she made a claim upon the Insurance Company for which Notman is agent, but received considerably less than she considered herself entitled to. However, she had not during the interval abandoned her claim, and there had been a constant correspondence over the matter. Affairs were in this condition when she laid the information for larceny against Nofcnian. The case was heard before Mr Ward, R.M., and Mr Bamber, J.P. On the side of the prosecution it was alleged that Notman went to Mrs Rankin's for the purpose of recovering possession of certain documents in relation to her claim, and that while there he seized the opportunity to steal fehe locket and £5 note ; and the fact that these articles were found in Notman's overcoat seemed to be damning evidence of his guilt. Mrs Eankin's evidence was partly supported, in some matters contradicted by that of her son and daughter. For the defence, Mr Hutchison represented that the woman met Notman in the street and invited him to accompany her to her house, that he remained there for some time, until the woman called in a policeman, who found Notman lying down without his coat and boots, and took the locket and note from a pocket in his overcoat. . .^

The theory put forward was that the whole thing was a diabolical plot by Mrs Rankin to revenge herself upon Notman for his action in refusing to satisfy her claim for insurance, that, in fact, she had entrapped him to the house under the guise of friendship, if not a less platonic relationship, had surreptitiously placed the locket and c£s note in his pocket, and. then called in the police with the object of effecting his ruin. Stress was laid upon some discrepancies in the evidence for the prosecution, and the extreme improbability of a man in the position of the accused going to the house for the mere purpose of committing a larceny. The case lasted from 2 o'clock until 7.30 p.m. in a crowded court, and the Bench dismissed the information, on the ground that the evidence of the prosecutor " did not carry that weight that should secure a conviction "; that they "did not believe Notman was in tue room with a felonious intent" ; and that even the evidence of the finding of the articles in his overcoat was " not satisfactory proof that he did steal, take, and cany away." This decision " was received with applause, and Mr Notman left the Court in company with a large number of personal friends " — to liquor-up, i ■-•■(: nvesuine, and, of course, without a stain on i i.js i-h:;:-a?t.ev. It will be seen, however, that . smle the Bench negatived the theory that "Not' \ Tinas v. :-,,? ->i\ \',i--- nremifc? with felonious intent, | tjwy c;!V"<i ro .">gge r -f;i< aas io his autual inten- | rioj'r-. s?o v. f- proii-]!!-* they r-'m^t bo left to conl jc/luve. Ihi; -.noi'ui of"fi:£. f-ase, if thew ih nny- | ? ii Liisr :if. :<A\ -m-.-.-.w} nhont \'c.'\-syt\^i "'t'.^x ' f 'oi'.;d ; :iicn ;»ijd .-v.'in] yrnmi'ijrts -4lf ! uld nob pilj' Ciail'fe.-Sfili: •■•-lu >J t<'! V-iiC I'OU.SCri of 1 -'"*' ladies (i;, ■.>■■■;■ pariit-u; u-ly hu : . t m >vidoiv.y>i ; ' which category, ia ('■•' ! ! .K-o 4 nv" c,\ ;-.i\y rek'zv!i;\'~" to a husband, we place Mr; 'R^'ldv, „