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Research in Other Countries => New Zealand => New Zealand Completed Requests => Topic started by: minniehaha on Wednesday 15 May 19 06:21 BST (UK)
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Human nature does not change...
This scam involved a widow [who will remain unnamed] who had married a widower, the latter dying in 1930. He is on my family tree.
A few years later, the widow was again looking for love. She became engaged to marry number three but some months later his true colours were revealed.
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19370203.2.46?query=william%20george%20thomas&phrase=2&start_date=01-01-1937&end_date=31-12-1937&snippet=true&title=EP
By 1942 he was labelled an habitual criminal....
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19420916.2.14?query=william%20george%20thomas&phrase=2&start_date=01-01-1942&end_date=31-12-1942&snippet=true
The widow lived in Dunedin.
What I am most curious about is how the 'lonely hearts' situation worked? It appears that the Otago advertisements were sent to Wellington or Auckland. I have so far not found any such "clubs" mentioned locally in Dunedin newspapers in the 1930's.
Minniehaha.
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Hi.
Must to bed, but just a quick look into Auckland press of the 1920's and 30's give lots of examples. Big court case in Australia re a prisoner free with his promises, gained wide press coverage in the late 1920's. Search using "Matrimonial" and "Lonely Hearts League" as search criteria.
One example attached.
Alan.
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Hi Alan,
I think you misunderstood my message. Or I did not make it clear enough.
I was referring to the Otago newspapers wherein many of the advertisements I came across from those living in Dunedin for example, had it appears, to send off their requests to either Wellington or Auckland. [Although having a second look, some were sent the 'The Times'].
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19360725.2.128.5?query=matrimonial&page=2&start_date=01-01-1933&end_date=31-12-1937&snippet=true&title=ODT&type=ADVERTISEMENT
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19360118.2.2.6?query=matrimonial&page=2&start_date=01-01-1933&end_date=31-12-1937&snippet=true&title=ODT&type=ADVERTISEMENT
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19360703.2.2.6?query=matrimonial&page=3&start_date=01-01-1933&end_date=31-12-1937&snippet=true&title=ODT&type=ADVERTISEMENT
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19360608.2.2.5?query=matrimonial&page=3&start_date=01-01-1933&end_date=31-12-1937&snippet=true&title=ODT&type=ADVERTISEMENT
Minniehaha.
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Hi Minniehaha,
Well, I've just learnt something new! I'd never realised that there were 'matrimonial clubs', or how they might have operated.
Spades
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Hi Minniehaha,
Well, I've just learnt something new! I'd never realised that there were 'matrimonial clubs', or how they might have operated.
Spades
I had not given the matter any thought either until I came across the predicament of this poor widow. With requests from Dunedin being sent up to Auckland & Wellington, I wonder how people were 'matched' up? Obviously the process did not work at all well on this occasion! :(
Minniehaha.
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"Human nature does not change..."...Regardless of colour/creed/continent :(
Sad as it was, I've read of a few here in the UK & some far worse than being after money, ones who have been killers or such like.
Thankfully not anyone (yet) in my own research.
Annie
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"I have so far not found any such "clubs" mentioned locally in Dunedin newspapers in the 1930's"
Is it not just a case of 'Club' being a suffix rather than meaning an actual club?
Lonely Hearts 'Club' although no actual meeting place which any participants would arrange themselves :-\
Annie
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I understand what you are saying Annie and you are quite right but I used the word "club" as I couldn't think of a better way to describe the situation. ;D
"OLD GENEALOGISTS NEVER DIE - THEY JUST LOSE THEIR CENSUS"
I like it!
Minniehaha.
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Hi Minniehaha,
Well, I've just learnt something new! I'd never realised that there were 'matrimonial clubs', or how they might have operated.
Spades
Still going under different names my father in law got sucked in beautifully.
Cheers Janette
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Yep Minniehaha.
Was skip reading again, through threads before bed.
Out of curiosity went looking in the Northern papers, and particularly thinking of the OBSERVER & NZ TRUTH, however the Observer had ceased publishing by the dates you mentioned.
Pace of life was much slower then, snail mail and no www linked to cell phones. Considering the number of some of the regular adds, I think "club" and "League" in most cases were just window dressing used by commercial enterprise. Some of it possibly pretty seedy, with ulterior motives.
No accounts of annual meetings etc, if a club or league.
Alan.
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[/quote]
Still going under different names my father in law got sucked in beautifully.
Cheers Janette
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I know of several involving very obliging south east Asians, who turned out to have ulterior motives, even though they had been warmly welcomed, and recieved, by their NEW exended NZ family.
Alan.