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Author Topic: A 1930's scam.  (Read 1521 times)

Offline minniehaha

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A 1930's scam.
« on: Wednesday 15 May 19 06:21 BST (UK) »
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.
HAMMOND, Cainham/Caynham, Shropshire, U.K. Otago-NZ.
GALBRAITH, Ireland, Dunedin, Otago-NZ., Kensington-London, U.K.
GRANT, Sct., Dunedin, Otago-NZ., Vancouver, Canada.
GLASS, Aberdeenshire, Otago-NZ.
CAIRNEY/CARNEY/KEARNEY/Ireland, Airdrie, Scotland, Otago-NZ.
O'BRIEN Mary Ann, Limerick, Otago-NZ.
NICOL(L) James, Scotland, Otago-NZ.
SCOTT Thomas, Shetland, Otago-NZ.
MCHARDY/MCHARDIE Euphemia, Scotland, Otago-NZ.

Offline Fresh Fields

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Re: A 1930's scam.
« Reply #1 on: Wednesday 15 May 19 12:55 BST (UK) »
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.
Early Settlers & Heritage. Family History.

Offline minniehaha

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Re: A 1930's scam.
« Reply #2 on: Wednesday 15 May 19 23:42 BST (UK) »
HAMMOND, Cainham/Caynham, Shropshire, U.K. Otago-NZ.
GALBRAITH, Ireland, Dunedin, Otago-NZ., Kensington-London, U.K.
GRANT, Sct., Dunedin, Otago-NZ., Vancouver, Canada.
GLASS, Aberdeenshire, Otago-NZ.
CAIRNEY/CARNEY/KEARNEY/Ireland, Airdrie, Scotland, Otago-NZ.
O'BRIEN Mary Ann, Limerick, Otago-NZ.
NICOL(L) James, Scotland, Otago-NZ.
SCOTT Thomas, Shetland, Otago-NZ.
MCHARDY/MCHARDIE Euphemia, Scotland, Otago-NZ.

Offline spades

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Re: A 1930's scam.
« Reply #3 on: Thursday 16 May 19 02:04 BST (UK) »
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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MURDOCH - Wigtownshire SCT, Otago and Westland NZ
PALING - Nottinghamshire ENG
RILEY - Flamborough; Cottingham; South Dalton ERY, Manitoba CAN, & London ENG
STURTON - Arnold, Nottinghamshire ENG
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TERNAN/TIERNAN - Dublin IRL

Offline minniehaha

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Re: A 1930's scam.
« Reply #4 on: Thursday 16 May 19 02:45 BST (UK) »
Quote from: spades on Thursday 16 May 19 02:04 BST (UK)
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.
HAMMOND, Cainham/Caynham, Shropshire, U.K. Otago-NZ.
GALBRAITH, Ireland, Dunedin, Otago-NZ., Kensington-London, U.K.
GRANT, Sct., Dunedin, Otago-NZ., Vancouver, Canada.
GLASS, Aberdeenshire, Otago-NZ.
CAIRNEY/CARNEY/KEARNEY/Ireland, Airdrie, Scotland, Otago-NZ.
O'BRIEN Mary Ann, Limerick, Otago-NZ.
NICOL(L) James, Scotland, Otago-NZ.
SCOTT Thomas, Shetland, Otago-NZ.
MCHARDY/MCHARDIE Euphemia, Scotland, Otago-NZ.

Offline Rosinish

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Re: A 1930's scam.
« Reply #5 on: Thursday 16 May 19 03:08 BST (UK) »
"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

South Uist, Inverness-shire, Scotland:- Bowie, Campbell, Cumming, Currie

Ireland:- Cullen, Flannigan (Derry), Donahoe/Donaghue (variants) (Cork), McCrate (Tipperary), Mellon, Tol(l)and (Donegal & Tyrone)

Newcastle-on-Tyne/Durham (Northumberland):- Harrison, Jude, Kemp, Lunn, Mellon, Robson, Stirling

Kettering, Northampton:- MacKinnon

Canada:- Callaghan, Cumming, MacPhee

"OLD GENEALOGISTS NEVER DIE - THEY JUST LOSE THEIR CENSUS"

Offline Rosinish

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Re: A 1930's scam.
« Reply #6 on: Thursday 16 May 19 03:18 BST (UK) »
"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
South Uist, Inverness-shire, Scotland:- Bowie, Campbell, Cumming, Currie

Ireland:- Cullen, Flannigan (Derry), Donahoe/Donaghue (variants) (Cork), McCrate (Tipperary), Mellon, Tol(l)and (Donegal & Tyrone)

Newcastle-on-Tyne/Durham (Northumberland):- Harrison, Jude, Kemp, Lunn, Mellon, Robson, Stirling

Kettering, Northampton:- MacKinnon

Canada:- Callaghan, Cumming, MacPhee

"OLD GENEALOGISTS NEVER DIE - THEY JUST LOSE THEIR CENSUS"

Offline minniehaha

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Re: A 1930's scam.
« Reply #7 on: Thursday 16 May 19 03:34 BST (UK) »
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.
HAMMOND, Cainham/Caynham, Shropshire, U.K. Otago-NZ.
GALBRAITH, Ireland, Dunedin, Otago-NZ., Kensington-London, U.K.
GRANT, Sct., Dunedin, Otago-NZ., Vancouver, Canada.
GLASS, Aberdeenshire, Otago-NZ.
CAIRNEY/CARNEY/KEARNEY/Ireland, Airdrie, Scotland, Otago-NZ.
O'BRIEN Mary Ann, Limerick, Otago-NZ.
NICOL(L) James, Scotland, Otago-NZ.
SCOTT Thomas, Shetland, Otago-NZ.
MCHARDY/MCHARDIE Euphemia, Scotland, Otago-NZ.

Offline Janette

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Re: A 1930's scam.
« Reply #8 on: Thursday 16 May 19 05:00 BST (UK) »
Quote from: spades on Thursday 16 May 19 02:04 BST (UK)
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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