1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:05,040 Speaker 1: Ah, that was exciting. No, it was, well, it was. 2 00:00:05,080 --> 00:00:08,799 Speaker 1: I mean, there was like an air of tension. Okay, 3 00:00:08,960 --> 00:00:12,240 Speaker 1: I guess that's there's some excitement there. We sat down 4 00:00:12,280 --> 00:00:17,640 Speaker 1: to record and three hours ago, yeah, and my laptop 5 00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:20,040 Speaker 1: just turned off and I was like, that's weird. And 6 00:00:20,079 --> 00:00:21,560 Speaker 1: I turned it back on and it was like, hey, 7 00:00:21,640 --> 00:00:24,599 Speaker 1: I'm on now, and then it let out this crazy, 8 00:00:24,760 --> 00:00:26,880 Speaker 1: this beeping sound like I'd never heard. It was like 9 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:29,960 Speaker 1: a fire alarm. Yes, it's very loud, and then it 10 00:00:30,080 --> 00:00:31,440 Speaker 1: just shut off and I was like, what the hell 11 00:00:31,480 --> 00:00:35,920 Speaker 1: is happening? Terrifying. Had to do some computer surgery. It 12 00:00:36,040 --> 00:00:39,640 Speaker 1: was just a fan stuck, so you know, the laptop 13 00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:42,239 Speaker 1: was like I I know, I can't. I can't the 14 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:45,320 Speaker 1: fans not working. I'm gonna freak out because if I 15 00:00:45,400 --> 00:00:47,080 Speaker 1: run with that, I could burst into flames. So it 16 00:00:47,120 --> 00:00:50,000 Speaker 1: kind of was a fire alarm. I guess. I guess 17 00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:52,520 Speaker 1: I'm glad it was loud then if it was gonna 18 00:00:52,720 --> 00:00:56,720 Speaker 1: burst into flames, I need to know that. Well, it 19 00:00:56,960 --> 00:01:00,560 Speaker 1: seemed fingers crossed. It's working. I hope we get through 20 00:01:00,640 --> 00:01:05,360 Speaker 1: this thro this what a week got jury duty? Damn. 21 00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:09,440 Speaker 1: The Emmy nominations came out true well we got a 22 00:01:09,440 --> 00:01:12,319 Speaker 1: story to get to. Oh my god that this laptop 23 00:01:12,360 --> 00:01:16,000 Speaker 1: crashes knock on woods. But yes, I'm very excited about 24 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:18,839 Speaker 1: this episode. This turned out to be a very fun story. 25 00:01:19,160 --> 00:01:22,640 Speaker 1: Um And I want to thank Simon um at chingwetty 26 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:27,039 Speaker 1: one on Instagram, who sent us this suggestion like several 27 00:01:27,080 --> 00:01:29,200 Speaker 1: months ago, so I've been waiting a while. Thanks Simon. 28 00:01:29,280 --> 00:01:31,880 Speaker 1: This was a really good one. And as I told Simon, 29 00:01:31,959 --> 00:01:34,360 Speaker 1: fair warning, half the reason I was excited about this 30 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:36,520 Speaker 1: is because it takes place in Australia and New Zealand, 31 00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:39,440 Speaker 1: which means we get to stun everyone with our terrible 32 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:43,920 Speaker 1: accidents from that region. And I cannot wait. Hey, mine 33 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:45,840 Speaker 1: might be pretty good. I don't know. I even tried 34 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:49,240 Speaker 1: it yet. Mine is terrible, so mine will be terrible. 35 00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:52,520 Speaker 1: Elis might be it won't be good. Well, we won't 36 00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:56,040 Speaker 1: overdo it. We won't overdo it, okay. So Agnes out 37 00:01:56,080 --> 00:01:59,760 Speaker 1: the Way, always called Nessie by her family, lived in 38 00:01:59,800 --> 00:02:03,000 Speaker 1: this South Otago coast in New Zealand, working at her 39 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:06,120 Speaker 1: parents boarding house for travelers. She was around thirty two 40 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:09,880 Speaker 1: years old and still single when a distinguished guest came 41 00:02:09,919 --> 00:02:13,359 Speaker 1: to stay. A rich, dapper forty nine year old man 42 00:02:13,480 --> 00:02:18,760 Speaker 1: named Perceval Leonard Carol Redwood. He was charming and generous, 43 00:02:19,040 --> 00:02:22,040 Speaker 1: and best of all, he seemed very taken with Nessy. 44 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:25,160 Speaker 1: Only a few weeks after they met, Nesty and Percy 45 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:30,560 Speaker 1: were engaged. But some things about Percy we're not adding up, 46 00:02:30,960 --> 00:02:35,040 Speaker 1: and people all over town were getting suspicious. So let's 47 00:02:35,040 --> 00:02:38,000 Speaker 1: find out the deal with Percy and the surprising things 48 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:41,480 Speaker 1: he was hiding under the surface. Curious, Let's go Hey, 49 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:45,280 Speaker 1: their French, come listen. Well, Elia and Diana got some 50 00:02:45,320 --> 00:02:49,280 Speaker 1: stories to tell. There's no matchmaking, a romantic tips. It's 51 00:02:49,360 --> 00:02:52,920 Speaker 1: just about pridiculous relationships, a lover. It might be any 52 00:02:52,960 --> 00:02:56,800 Speaker 1: type of persion at all, and abstract concept a concrete wall. 53 00:02:57,160 --> 00:03:00,200 Speaker 1: But if there's a story, were the second glanch boo 54 00:03:00,919 --> 00:03:06,119 Speaker 1: ridiculous roles? A production of I Heart Radio. Percy had 55 00:03:06,200 --> 00:03:09,320 Speaker 1: come from Dunnydin. He made a lot of friends there. 56 00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:12,799 Speaker 1: In a nine nine article from The Evening Star, one 57 00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:16,160 Speaker 1: Dunnyden resident said about Percy, quote, he was an all 58 00:03:16,280 --> 00:03:19,000 Speaker 1: right check. He had plenty of money and if you 59 00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:21,480 Speaker 1: wanted anything, he was the boy to buy it for you. 60 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:26,440 Speaker 1: What the funk? Where am I? By way of Dublin? 61 00:03:27,919 --> 00:03:32,040 Speaker 1: That's what happens every time. Okay, hold on, hold on. 62 00:03:32,960 --> 00:03:34,760 Speaker 1: We went to the theater with him, and he would 63 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:37,200 Speaker 1: have been quite disappointed if my wife and daughter had 64 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:44,760 Speaker 1: not gone with him. My daughter once said, finish the quote. 65 00:03:44,800 --> 00:03:48,600 Speaker 1: I can't do it. My daughter once said she liked dimples, 66 00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:51,360 Speaker 1: and he had a box sent to us. I once 67 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:53,720 Speaker 1: said I would like a pair of cat and he 68 00:03:53,800 --> 00:03:56,080 Speaker 1: said he would get one for me from his uncle 69 00:03:56,160 --> 00:04:00,400 Speaker 1: in Melbourne's. Amazing, amazing, that took like a minute. What 70 00:04:00,440 --> 00:04:04,920 Speaker 1: a world traveler, this person, He's from everywhere. And then 71 00:04:04,960 --> 00:04:07,880 Speaker 1: a cab driver chipped in to add and he told 72 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:11,880 Speaker 1: me he'd get me a Persian cat. So anyway, he 73 00:04:11,920 --> 00:04:16,000 Speaker 1: took this generous attitude with him to nugget point, showing 74 00:04:16,080 --> 00:04:18,560 Speaker 1: up dressed to the nines and thrown around money like 75 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:21,080 Speaker 1: it was going out of style. And he stayed at 76 00:04:21,120 --> 00:04:25,080 Speaker 1: Albion House, the boarding house operated by Mr and Mrs 77 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:30,360 Speaker 1: George Ottaway and their daughter Nessy. Now everything about this 78 00:04:30,400 --> 00:04:34,960 Speaker 1: guy Percy was legit. He was the nephew of an archbishop. 79 00:04:35,279 --> 00:04:37,840 Speaker 1: His mother was a wealthy widow who lived on a 80 00:04:37,880 --> 00:04:41,839 Speaker 1: sheep farm in Hamilton's and he bought gifts and bestowed 81 00:04:41,880 --> 00:04:46,080 Speaker 1: favors indiscriminately, just left and right. You'll get a favor. 82 00:04:46,120 --> 00:04:48,839 Speaker 1: You'll get a favor. Here's a fancy gift for you, 83 00:04:49,360 --> 00:04:54,080 Speaker 1: very nice apples. One resident said that Percy was quote 84 00:04:54,279 --> 00:04:57,000 Speaker 1: the essence of all that was good in coined, and 85 00:04:57,040 --> 00:04:59,240 Speaker 1: he appeared to have to do good for other people. 86 00:04:59,440 --> 00:05:02,120 Speaker 1: He's if a reality in obliging nature made us all 87 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:06,640 Speaker 1: like him. Having established himself so well in Nugget Point, 88 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:08,560 Speaker 1: it was no problem for any of the residents to 89 00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:11,640 Speaker 1: do him a good turn as well. When Percy confessed 90 00:05:11,760 --> 00:05:14,479 Speaker 1: that he'd lost his wallet on a fishing trip and 91 00:05:14,480 --> 00:05:18,520 Speaker 1: he was all cleaned out, one lady offered him her 92 00:05:18,680 --> 00:05:22,120 Speaker 1: life savings until he could have the money sent from 93 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:25,719 Speaker 1: his wealthy mom. Several other people felt compelled to give 94 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:30,400 Speaker 1: Percy loans, sometimes as much as thirty pounds, which in 95 00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:35,320 Speaker 1: a modern New Zealand bucks is worth three thousand, eight 96 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:39,680 Speaker 1: hundred four pounds today. That's a big loan now. Maybe 97 00:05:39,680 --> 00:05:42,480 Speaker 1: the people of Nugget Point were also eager to help 98 00:05:42,560 --> 00:05:45,920 Speaker 1: with the romance they could see was brewing between Nestie 99 00:05:45,960 --> 00:05:49,080 Speaker 1: and Percy, because it wasn't long after Percy arrived at 100 00:05:49,080 --> 00:05:52,880 Speaker 1: Albion House that sparks started to fly, and after only 101 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:56,960 Speaker 1: a few weeks, Percy popped the question. Now Nessie's parents, 102 00:05:57,000 --> 00:05:59,720 Speaker 1: the Ottaways, knew that Nessie was going to come into 103 00:05:59,760 --> 00:06:02,040 Speaker 1: some money at some point, so they need to be 104 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:04,400 Speaker 1: pretty careful about her suitors. You know, you don't want 105 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:09,360 Speaker 1: any fortune hunters stuff and around. But all their fears 106 00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:11,840 Speaker 1: were laid to rest when Mrs Ottaway got a very 107 00:06:11,839 --> 00:06:16,159 Speaker 1: gratifying letter from Percy's mother, who wrote, quote, I have 108 00:06:16,240 --> 00:06:18,600 Speaker 1: just had a talk over the marriage with my boys, 109 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:21,159 Speaker 1: and I'm going to town to see my lawyer. We 110 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:24,400 Speaker 1: have decided to give him three and five hundred pounds, 111 00:06:24,440 --> 00:06:26,760 Speaker 1: and I will give him another one thousand pounds for 112 00:06:26,800 --> 00:06:30,880 Speaker 1: the house and furniture as they wishes to live in Denedin. Yours, 113 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:38,279 Speaker 1: very sincerely, Francis Redwood. Hey, thank you. Even better, another 114 00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:42,000 Speaker 1: letter arrived from Mrs Ottaway from the Auckland Drainage Board 115 00:06:42,240 --> 00:06:45,000 Speaker 1: informing her that the secretary of the board was retiring 116 00:06:45,040 --> 00:06:47,440 Speaker 1: and would hire Percy to replace him for a salary 117 00:06:47,440 --> 00:06:50,880 Speaker 1: of seven pounds a week. Now. That is eight hundred 118 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:54,159 Speaker 1: and eighty seven pounds a week today, good salary in 119 00:06:54,400 --> 00:06:56,599 Speaker 1: US dollars. It's like sixty cents to a New Zealand 120 00:06:56,640 --> 00:06:59,080 Speaker 1: dollar today, so it's that's still like, yeah, it's like 121 00:06:59,080 --> 00:07:00,839 Speaker 1: seven hundred bucks or so things. I mean, I would 122 00:07:00,880 --> 00:07:04,960 Speaker 1: take it, so this couple would be financially set for life, 123 00:07:04,960 --> 00:07:07,800 Speaker 1: and there's no reason to keep NeSSI away from this guy. 124 00:07:07,880 --> 00:07:11,720 Speaker 1: In fact, Mrs Ottaway trusted him so much that when 125 00:07:11,760 --> 00:07:14,160 Speaker 1: Percy wrote to a law firm to get a mortgage 126 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:17,560 Speaker 1: against the horses and sheep that he owned, she offered 127 00:07:17,560 --> 00:07:21,400 Speaker 1: her own house as security on this loan because the 128 00:07:21,480 --> 00:07:24,520 Speaker 1: lawyer had been a little suspicious of Percy, so he'd 129 00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:26,920 Speaker 1: come out and Percy had to like name all his 130 00:07:27,080 --> 00:07:30,200 Speaker 1: cattle and tell him isn't identifying marks and everything? And 131 00:07:30,520 --> 00:07:33,080 Speaker 1: he did all that, which is funny because I'm like, 132 00:07:33,080 --> 00:07:35,680 Speaker 1: did you have a picture of them? And yeah, oh yeah, 133 00:07:35,720 --> 00:07:38,160 Speaker 1: he doesn't, just like spot on his ear. Oh you've 134 00:07:38,200 --> 00:07:42,520 Speaker 1: got sheep? Do you well, tell me six of their names, 135 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:50,160 Speaker 1: and he's like, uh, jamieson coil, Michael Jamison to Philip. 136 00:07:52,640 --> 00:07:54,960 Speaker 1: You know, they're like oh wow, okay, well you name 137 00:07:55,040 --> 00:07:58,880 Speaker 1: those pretty quickly. So I assume those sheep they must 138 00:07:58,920 --> 00:08:01,400 Speaker 1: be yours to Jon's and did he have a roll 139 00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:04,680 Speaker 1: call or something. I don't know. But yeah, once the 140 00:08:04,760 --> 00:08:08,800 Speaker 1: lawyer had this valuable boarding house as collateral, you know, 141 00:08:08,840 --> 00:08:11,640 Speaker 1: it was all good. The mortgage went through, Percy swimming 142 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:15,080 Speaker 1: in cash again, and so the wedding date was set 143 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:20,520 Speaker 1: for April one, nine nine. Okay, so Percy shows up 144 00:08:20,520 --> 00:08:24,040 Speaker 1: in town, stays at this place, and falls in love 145 00:08:24,080 --> 00:08:27,680 Speaker 1: with the girl. Her parents say, we're not so sure 146 00:08:27,680 --> 00:08:30,800 Speaker 1: about this guy, and he just starts producing letters. Well here, 147 00:08:30,840 --> 00:08:32,960 Speaker 1: this proves who I am. This proves who I am, 148 00:08:33,080 --> 00:08:35,440 Speaker 1: and they're like, damn, okay, well let me put up 149 00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:37,840 Speaker 1: my house as collateral for your loan. Then, yeah, this 150 00:08:37,920 --> 00:08:40,679 Speaker 1: guy's great. He so trustworthy. I mean, he would never 151 00:08:40,720 --> 00:08:43,400 Speaker 1: do anything to hurt anybody. He just seemed like such 152 00:08:43,440 --> 00:08:46,559 Speaker 1: a lovely guy. So why not. It's given me music 153 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:53,119 Speaker 1: man vibes. You know, she shows up on the music Man. Yeah, exactly, 154 00:08:53,880 --> 00:08:59,280 Speaker 1: pool tables. So for this wedding, Percy spared no expense either. 155 00:08:59,400 --> 00:09:02,560 Speaker 1: He gave see a ring with five diamonds in it. 156 00:09:02,960 --> 00:09:06,360 Speaker 1: There were two hundred guests, that's almost as big as 157 00:09:06,360 --> 00:09:09,840 Speaker 1: our wedding, including the local member of parliament who we 158 00:09:09,880 --> 00:09:13,400 Speaker 1: did not get at our wedding. We invited all of 159 00:09:13,480 --> 00:09:17,959 Speaker 1: Parliament and none of them came. Nestie had ten bridesmaids, 160 00:09:18,080 --> 00:09:21,240 Speaker 1: and after the ceremony, everyone sat down to a lavish 161 00:09:21,240 --> 00:09:28,200 Speaker 1: wedding feast, complete with limitless Rand's champagne. I know, right, 162 00:09:29,280 --> 00:09:36,640 Speaker 1: we did not have that Tito's vodka like maybe Jamison, Yeah, 163 00:09:37,600 --> 00:09:40,400 Speaker 1: but a lot of it. Um. Percy had bought an 164 00:09:40,400 --> 00:09:44,800 Speaker 1: extravagant cake. He had fancy suits and silver backed hair 165 00:09:44,880 --> 00:09:48,680 Speaker 1: brushes for his bride. It was the social event of 166 00:09:48,920 --> 00:09:52,840 Speaker 1: the year. But the residents of Nugget Point had another 167 00:09:52,880 --> 00:09:55,720 Speaker 1: reason to be excited about this wedding. Remember all those 168 00:09:55,800 --> 00:09:59,640 Speaker 1: loans Percy had gotten. Everyone was like, oh, yeah, young man, 169 00:09:59,679 --> 00:10:02,560 Speaker 1: take my life savings until you can pay me back. 170 00:10:02,720 --> 00:10:08,400 Speaker 1: Don't worry about it, you're such a nice guy. Three dollars. Well, 171 00:10:08,559 --> 00:10:10,920 Speaker 1: nobody had been paid back yet, and people were kind 172 00:10:10,920 --> 00:10:14,640 Speaker 1: of starting to chatter. Whispers were growing, and Percy swore, 173 00:10:15,720 --> 00:10:18,240 Speaker 1: my mother is going to be at this wedding. She'll 174 00:10:18,280 --> 00:10:22,439 Speaker 1: pay everybody back. Don't worry you about it. So the 175 00:10:22,559 --> 00:10:25,559 Speaker 1: guests had gotten dressed and ready for this party, expecting 176 00:10:25,559 --> 00:10:27,760 Speaker 1: that they would come home with all their money. What 177 00:10:27,880 --> 00:10:32,360 Speaker 1: a wedding gift. But when they arrived at the wedding 178 00:10:33,120 --> 00:10:39,360 Speaker 1: several important seats were empty. What was going on? Where's 179 00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:42,880 Speaker 1: Mrs Percy, where's the old rich lady? Where's the money? 180 00:10:43,080 --> 00:10:47,080 Speaker 1: Where is the Redwood family? Well, of course Percy had 181 00:10:47,080 --> 00:10:51,600 Speaker 1: an answer. You see, his sister was also getting married 182 00:10:51,640 --> 00:10:56,400 Speaker 1: that exact same day, Shenanigan very rude. So his family 183 00:10:56,440 --> 00:10:59,000 Speaker 1: hadn't been able to come after all, and again flashing 184 00:10:59,000 --> 00:11:01,480 Speaker 1: back to our wedding, we waited a whole extra year 185 00:11:01,720 --> 00:11:04,080 Speaker 1: so we wouldn't be near your brother's wedding. That's right. 186 00:11:04,600 --> 00:11:08,120 Speaker 1: I don't know what's wrong with the sister. But don't 187 00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:11,400 Speaker 1: worry everybody. Percy told them, my mother's gonna be here 188 00:11:11,400 --> 00:11:14,839 Speaker 1: in a week. She'll have your money. Then everything's gonna 189 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:18,240 Speaker 1: be fine. So everybody's kind of a side on each other. 190 00:11:18,400 --> 00:11:20,800 Speaker 1: Oh what's going on with this money? Alright? Alright, he says. 191 00:11:20,800 --> 00:11:24,720 Speaker 1: A week. They don't say anything, and the wedding went forward, 192 00:11:25,280 --> 00:11:29,600 Speaker 1: But Nsty's dad, George Ottaway, he stayed suspicious. He was like, 193 00:11:30,040 --> 00:11:32,559 Speaker 1: this mom didn't turn up, and I don't know. So 194 00:11:32,600 --> 00:11:35,840 Speaker 1: he insisted that the married couple stay in separate rooms 195 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:40,880 Speaker 1: until Percy's financial bona fides could be confirmed. Once Percy's 196 00:11:40,920 --> 00:11:43,959 Speaker 1: mom got there, and paid everybody's debts. Great, you can 197 00:11:43,960 --> 00:11:46,920 Speaker 1: consummate your union, but until then, it's a cold batchless 198 00:11:46,920 --> 00:11:53,760 Speaker 1: bed for you. Percy, Oh New Zealand by way of Chicago. 199 00:11:53,880 --> 00:11:57,480 Speaker 1: I think he's a very no nonsense guy. Okay, Now, 200 00:11:57,640 --> 00:12:01,280 Speaker 1: Percy was fine with this arrangement. He went up to bed. Uh. 201 00:12:01,400 --> 00:12:03,120 Speaker 1: He shared a room with one of his groom's men, 202 00:12:03,160 --> 00:12:05,720 Speaker 1: who was very surprised when Percy climbed into bed to 203 00:12:05,720 --> 00:12:08,520 Speaker 1: go to sleep that night, fully dressed in his wedding suit. 204 00:12:09,120 --> 00:12:12,440 Speaker 1: But it was like, whatever, weird guy. Whatever. Lots of 205 00:12:12,600 --> 00:12:15,679 Speaker 1: rooms have fallen asleep in their touch suits room, but 206 00:12:15,920 --> 00:12:19,400 Speaker 1: George was far from the only suspicious one. A couple 207 00:12:19,400 --> 00:12:22,240 Speaker 1: of family friends had actually like written to people they 208 00:12:22,280 --> 00:12:25,160 Speaker 1: knew in Hamilton's and they were like, Hey, can you 209 00:12:25,240 --> 00:12:28,800 Speaker 1: find this Redwood widow lady that we keep hearing so 210 00:12:28,920 --> 00:12:33,400 Speaker 1: much about? And I know she owes me some money, 211 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:37,240 Speaker 1: so I've been interested, And nobody could find any trace 212 00:12:37,600 --> 00:12:40,280 Speaker 1: of a woman with that name. So people started to 213 00:12:40,320 --> 00:12:43,360 Speaker 1: talk to the police, and as the details of Percy's 214 00:12:43,360 --> 00:12:47,840 Speaker 1: behavior emerged, one detective, detective Henry Hunt, felt his ears 215 00:12:47,840 --> 00:12:52,360 Speaker 1: prick up overly complicated situations involving a lot of unpaid 216 00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:56,319 Speaker 1: debts and a bunch of letters. This was familiar stuff, 217 00:12:56,559 --> 00:12:59,720 Speaker 1: so Detective Hunt went straight to Albion House and asked 218 00:12:59,760 --> 00:13:04,160 Speaker 1: for Percy down the stairs. Percy came pipe in his mouth, 219 00:13:04,280 --> 00:13:08,319 Speaker 1: full suit on, looking sharp. Detective Hunt was not fooled 220 00:13:08,440 --> 00:13:14,719 Speaker 1: for an instant. He said, quote, the game's up, Amy, Amy, 221 00:13:15,760 --> 00:13:20,600 Speaker 1: Who the fuck is Amy? What is happening? Yeah, let's 222 00:13:20,600 --> 00:13:24,040 Speaker 1: find out the real story of Percy Redwood right after 223 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:34,559 Speaker 1: this commercial break. Yeah, we'll come back to the show forward. 224 00:13:34,679 --> 00:13:42,000 Speaker 1: I can't these ps unrelated. If anyone's a dialect coach, 225 00:13:43,720 --> 00:13:46,640 Speaker 1: send your information to there's dialect coaches out there going right. 226 00:13:46,800 --> 00:13:49,680 Speaker 1: I'm not taking this job. There's nothing I can do 227 00:13:49,720 --> 00:13:52,720 Speaker 1: for you. The greatest challenge I've ever faced, and I 228 00:13:52,720 --> 00:14:01,440 Speaker 1: don't have the energy. You can't afford meurs. All right, 229 00:14:02,280 --> 00:14:06,760 Speaker 1: well everybody, Yes, our friend Percy is actually a woman 230 00:14:06,960 --> 00:14:11,080 Speaker 1: named Amy maud Bach, and she's been called one of 231 00:14:11,120 --> 00:14:16,719 Speaker 1: the most celebrated and energetic confidence tricksters in New Zealand history. Oh. 232 00:14:17,600 --> 00:14:21,320 Speaker 1: She was born in eighteen fifty nine in Hobart, Tasmania. 233 00:14:21,680 --> 00:14:25,000 Speaker 1: Her father was a photographer and an artist named Alfred Bach, 234 00:14:25,640 --> 00:14:29,680 Speaker 1: and unfortunately her mother mary Anne suffered from a serious 235 00:14:29,680 --> 00:14:34,400 Speaker 1: mental illness. In eighteen sixty seven, the family moved to Sale, Victoria, 236 00:14:34,760 --> 00:14:38,600 Speaker 1: and her mother seems to become more delusional. She thought 237 00:14:38,720 --> 00:14:42,560 Speaker 1: that she was Lady Macbeth. According to historian Jenny Coleman 238 00:14:42,920 --> 00:14:45,840 Speaker 1: in her book Mad or Bad, The Life and Exploits 239 00:14:45,840 --> 00:14:50,120 Speaker 1: of Amy Bach, Coleman thinks that Mary Ann Bach possibly 240 00:14:50,160 --> 00:14:53,680 Speaker 1: had bipolar disorder. She was committed to an asylum, and 241 00:14:53,760 --> 00:14:56,600 Speaker 1: she died in eighteen seventy two. Now, as a young 242 00:14:56,600 --> 00:14:59,920 Speaker 1: girl in school, Amy was She was bright, she was clever, 243 00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:03,840 Speaker 1: she was popular even, and she was an accomplished horsewoman 244 00:15:03,880 --> 00:15:08,080 Speaker 1: and pianist. And she was a great actor. She even 245 00:15:08,160 --> 00:15:11,960 Speaker 1: played male roles on stage several times in school plays. 246 00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:16,400 Speaker 1: But her love of thieving got started early. In a 247 00:15:16,440 --> 00:15:19,160 Speaker 1: statement to the police, Amy told them that as a kid, 248 00:15:19,800 --> 00:15:23,240 Speaker 1: she loved buying a bunch of books on credit under 249 00:15:23,280 --> 00:15:25,960 Speaker 1: her dad's name and then just giving them away all 250 00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:28,720 Speaker 1: over town. When her dad found out that he was 251 00:15:28,760 --> 00:15:30,640 Speaker 1: on the hook for all these books, he told her 252 00:15:30,680 --> 00:15:33,920 Speaker 1: to quit it, which she said, quote only increased my 253 00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:37,720 Speaker 1: desire to get things without his knowing. That made her 254 00:15:37,800 --> 00:15:42,440 Speaker 1: dad afraid that she had inherited her mother's instability. Apparently also, 255 00:15:42,520 --> 00:15:45,680 Speaker 1: she once passed herself off as the daughter of a 256 00:15:45,720 --> 00:15:50,680 Speaker 1: wealthy family, and she ordered several coffins from a string 257 00:15:50,720 --> 00:15:54,800 Speaker 1: of funeral directors, all delivered to a family who had 258 00:15:54,840 --> 00:15:57,880 Speaker 1: no bodies to bury, which is one of the best 259 00:15:57,920 --> 00:16:00,800 Speaker 1: pranks I've ever heard. Incredible, And I was like, is 260 00:16:00,840 --> 00:16:02,920 Speaker 1: she trying to say, like I wish you were dead? 261 00:16:03,920 --> 00:16:06,440 Speaker 1: What is she saying? It's just so weird, That's what 262 00:16:06,480 --> 00:16:09,040 Speaker 1: I love about it. They just imagine that people who 263 00:16:09,080 --> 00:16:12,120 Speaker 1: opened the door and there's like seven coffins, They're like, 264 00:16:12,160 --> 00:16:14,040 Speaker 1: what the hell am I supposed to do with this? 265 00:16:14,320 --> 00:16:19,240 Speaker 1: That's hilarious. I'm just saying, that's the funniest job. I 266 00:16:19,280 --> 00:16:22,000 Speaker 1: want to know more, like were they varying sizes? Were 267 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:24,520 Speaker 1: they all the same? Like wood? Like what was did 268 00:16:24,520 --> 00:16:26,880 Speaker 1: she have a one fancy one and one plane box? 269 00:16:26,960 --> 00:16:30,040 Speaker 1: And they had to fight over it. In eighteen seventy six, 270 00:16:30,040 --> 00:16:33,200 Speaker 1: when she was about seventeen, Amy left her father's house 271 00:16:33,240 --> 00:16:36,800 Speaker 1: to become the only teacher at a rural school in Gippsland, 272 00:16:36,920 --> 00:16:41,080 Speaker 1: right outside of Melbourne, but she was frequently absent, claiming 273 00:16:41,160 --> 00:16:44,400 Speaker 1: she was too sick to come in, and twice inspectors 274 00:16:44,400 --> 00:16:47,960 Speaker 1: found out that she was falsely inflating her school attendance 275 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:51,440 Speaker 1: records because her salary was based on how many students 276 00:16:51,480 --> 00:16:53,560 Speaker 1: she had in the classroom, so she would just like 277 00:16:53,640 --> 00:16:59,000 Speaker 1: add a few names forget Jamison and Jamison too, don't forget. 278 00:17:01,040 --> 00:17:03,520 Speaker 1: She also used her status as a school teacher to 279 00:17:03,600 --> 00:17:06,320 Speaker 1: get a line of credit, which she used to run 280 00:17:06,400 --> 00:17:09,560 Speaker 1: up a bunch of debts. She stole two watches from 281 00:17:09,560 --> 00:17:12,080 Speaker 1: a jeweler in Melbourne by pretending that her brother was 282 00:17:12,119 --> 00:17:14,639 Speaker 1: giving the watches a gift and he wanted to choose 283 00:17:14,680 --> 00:17:18,640 Speaker 1: between watches, and of course she had a letter from 284 00:17:18,640 --> 00:17:23,160 Speaker 1: the brother and it apparently was not an unusual thing 285 00:17:23,320 --> 00:17:25,680 Speaker 1: to do at the time, so the jewelers like, sure, 286 00:17:25,720 --> 00:17:28,320 Speaker 1: go off with the watches and let me know. And 287 00:17:28,880 --> 00:17:32,679 Speaker 1: of course she failed to come back with either of 288 00:17:32,720 --> 00:17:36,280 Speaker 1: the watches or any payment. So the jeweler contacted the police, 289 00:17:36,640 --> 00:17:38,800 Speaker 1: and since she had used her real name, it was 290 00:17:38,880 --> 00:17:42,920 Speaker 1: not very hard to track her down. Investigating further, they 291 00:17:42,960 --> 00:17:46,320 Speaker 1: found that she had also bought two carriages, a piano, 292 00:17:46,720 --> 00:17:50,479 Speaker 1: and multiple pieces of furniture on credit, which she then sold, 293 00:17:51,560 --> 00:17:53,520 Speaker 1: and then she tried to get out of paying by 294 00:17:53,560 --> 00:17:56,880 Speaker 1: forging a bunch of letters from a fake sister named Ethel, 295 00:17:57,000 --> 00:18:02,480 Speaker 1: claiming that Amy had died. Dear inspective, please stop looking 296 00:18:02,480 --> 00:18:05,959 Speaker 1: for my sister. Turns out she's dead. Sincerely, Ethel, I'm 297 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:08,520 Speaker 1: looking at her rotten now she is in one of 298 00:18:08,520 --> 00:18:13,720 Speaker 1: the many coffins that she's Your time searching for her 299 00:18:14,520 --> 00:18:18,960 Speaker 1: might as well stop detectives like, well, okay, I mean 300 00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:21,120 Speaker 1: someone said she's dead. I'm not gonna waste my time. 301 00:18:23,640 --> 00:18:27,119 Speaker 1: So in eight four she's arrested on charges of fraud. 302 00:18:27,200 --> 00:18:30,639 Speaker 1: This is her first arrest. However, the court decided that 303 00:18:30,720 --> 00:18:34,280 Speaker 1: because of her family history of her mother's mental illness, 304 00:18:34,320 --> 00:18:38,280 Speaker 1: Amy was not responsible for her own actions, and so 305 00:18:38,359 --> 00:18:41,960 Speaker 1: she was discharged without a conviction. Um she was pledged 306 00:18:42,040 --> 00:18:45,640 Speaker 1: to good behavior for twelve months, and her dad convinced 307 00:18:45,640 --> 00:18:48,800 Speaker 1: her to move with him to Auckland, New Zealand, where 308 00:18:48,800 --> 00:18:51,560 Speaker 1: he was living with his new wife, a woman who 309 00:18:51,600 --> 00:18:55,040 Speaker 1: by the way, was only one year older than Amy. 310 00:18:55,080 --> 00:18:57,679 Speaker 1: And it wasn't easy to live with her dad and 311 00:18:57,760 --> 00:19:00,480 Speaker 1: her new same age step mom. We've seen that before, 312 00:19:01,960 --> 00:19:04,119 Speaker 1: so she struck out on her own after only a 313 00:19:04,119 --> 00:19:07,080 Speaker 1: couple of months at home. In May of eighteen fifty five, 314 00:19:07,560 --> 00:19:11,760 Speaker 1: she was arrested again for obtaining one pound and concert 315 00:19:11,800 --> 00:19:16,399 Speaker 1: tickets on false pretenses. Speculation station, What are the false 316 00:19:16,440 --> 00:19:19,560 Speaker 1: pretenses that get you concert tickets? Right? It's like make 317 00:19:19,640 --> 00:19:22,159 Speaker 1: a wish thing Like She's like, I'm very sick and 318 00:19:22,280 --> 00:19:25,600 Speaker 1: I'm gady to die. I'd love nothing more than say 319 00:19:25,680 --> 00:19:30,520 Speaker 1: they banned before I talk almost. I don't know, Wow, 320 00:19:30,560 --> 00:19:33,320 Speaker 1: that would make her a bad person or what if 321 00:19:33,359 --> 00:19:36,400 Speaker 1: it's just I'm the manager on the band's Oh yeah, 322 00:19:36,640 --> 00:19:39,240 Speaker 1: I'm in the band actually, so I cannot get a 323 00:19:39,240 --> 00:19:42,800 Speaker 1: couple of tickets from my brother Jamison and my sister 324 00:19:42,960 --> 00:19:48,320 Speaker 1: Jamison two wow? Okay. Well. She was again found not 325 00:19:48,400 --> 00:19:51,800 Speaker 1: responsible for her actions for these concert tickets, and she 326 00:19:51,920 --> 00:19:55,240 Speaker 1: was released. She moved to Littleton on the east coast 327 00:19:55,280 --> 00:19:59,120 Speaker 1: of New Zealand and became a governess for some family friends. 328 00:19:59,600 --> 00:20:03,919 Speaker 1: Eight month scho by, no problems, no arrests, no theft, nothing. 329 00:20:04,520 --> 00:20:08,320 Speaker 1: But then in eight six she informed her employers that 330 00:20:08,440 --> 00:20:12,600 Speaker 1: she had just inherited a large sum of money and 331 00:20:12,600 --> 00:20:14,480 Speaker 1: when they told her, they didn't believe her, because of 332 00:20:14,520 --> 00:20:17,000 Speaker 1: course they were family friends they probably knew a lot 333 00:20:17,040 --> 00:20:21,240 Speaker 1: of her history. She got offended and she quit and 334 00:20:21,320 --> 00:20:24,280 Speaker 1: she bought some stuff on credit, probably sold it illegally, 335 00:20:24,680 --> 00:20:27,800 Speaker 1: and she took off to Wellington. The thing is about amy. 336 00:20:28,000 --> 00:20:30,960 Speaker 1: She does not try hard to cover her tracks, so 337 00:20:31,119 --> 00:20:35,480 Speaker 1: she was quickly found arrested again and brought back, this 338 00:20:35,520 --> 00:20:39,000 Speaker 1: time to christ Church for trial. And in this trial 339 00:20:39,160 --> 00:20:43,359 Speaker 1: they decided, oh, we can't reverbet your family history, and 340 00:20:43,400 --> 00:20:45,159 Speaker 1: they threw the book at her. She was sentenced to 341 00:20:45,280 --> 00:20:49,600 Speaker 1: one month's hard labor and imprisonment. She gets out, goes 342 00:20:49,640 --> 00:20:51,919 Speaker 1: back to Wellington. She gets a job teaching at the 343 00:20:51,960 --> 00:20:57,879 Speaker 1: Otaki Mayori Boys College. Almost immediately she starts obtaining goods 344 00:20:57,920 --> 00:21:02,239 Speaker 1: to false pretense in her favorite thing, using most of 345 00:21:02,240 --> 00:21:05,000 Speaker 1: her ill gotten gains too, it must be said, buy 346 00:21:05,040 --> 00:21:10,199 Speaker 1: books for her students. That's kind of cool hood action. Yeah, 347 00:21:10,240 --> 00:21:12,560 Speaker 1: And it isn't long before she's found out again. She 348 00:21:12,600 --> 00:21:14,720 Speaker 1: goes back to court for fraud and she gets six 349 00:21:14,760 --> 00:21:18,480 Speaker 1: months detention. But while she's in jail, the warden is 350 00:21:18,520 --> 00:21:21,760 Speaker 1: so impressed by her manners and social skills he offers 351 00:21:21,760 --> 00:21:26,840 Speaker 1: her a job teaching other inmates. Nice, I know, right, 352 00:21:27,440 --> 00:21:31,000 Speaker 1: I guess manners and social skills. Let me teach you 353 00:21:31,080 --> 00:21:35,920 Speaker 1: had a forge a chick not. Things are going great 354 00:21:36,840 --> 00:21:39,199 Speaker 1: until the warden finds out that Amy is trying to 355 00:21:39,240 --> 00:21:42,040 Speaker 1: secure her release from jail by forging a bunch of 356 00:21:42,119 --> 00:21:49,280 Speaker 1: letters from a supportive but completely fictional aunt. Dear my 357 00:21:49,760 --> 00:21:55,439 Speaker 1: sweet niece Amy. She's so kind and giving and loving. 358 00:21:55,880 --> 00:21:59,640 Speaker 1: Actually the letters were to Amy her aunts, and they 359 00:21:59,680 --> 00:22:02,680 Speaker 1: were very like. They were like, oh, Amy, how could 360 00:22:02,760 --> 00:22:06,879 Speaker 1: you You're always I wish that God could solve your problems, 361 00:22:06,960 --> 00:22:09,600 Speaker 1: but I'm an invalid and I can't come visit you 362 00:22:09,800 --> 00:22:12,560 Speaker 1: see if they'll bring you to me. And they were like, oh, 363 00:22:12,640 --> 00:22:15,000 Speaker 1: she's trying to like give us the slip on the 364 00:22:15,000 --> 00:22:21,160 Speaker 1: way or whatever. Dear Amy asked the warden very nicely 365 00:22:21,240 --> 00:22:24,880 Speaker 1: to put you in a carriage with no God tell him. 366 00:22:24,880 --> 00:22:30,080 Speaker 1: I said, it's a very smart idea, signed your very 367 00:22:30,160 --> 00:22:38,240 Speaker 1: trustworthy aunt Jamison to Jamison. Alright, So she got released. 368 00:22:38,560 --> 00:22:41,879 Speaker 1: She started teaching music, but only a few months later 369 00:22:42,119 --> 00:22:45,520 Speaker 1: she landed in court again for her favorite obtaining goods 370 00:22:45,560 --> 00:22:49,880 Speaker 1: on false pretexts. At that trial, Amy explained she couldn't 371 00:22:49,880 --> 00:22:53,520 Speaker 1: help herself when she said when she was teaching in Melbourne, 372 00:22:53,560 --> 00:22:57,800 Speaker 1: she managed to keep quote the Malady at Bay because 373 00:22:57,800 --> 00:23:00,920 Speaker 1: she really loved her work. Then she had a personal tragedy. 374 00:23:01,359 --> 00:23:04,679 Speaker 1: She was engaged to a childhood friend who died tragically 375 00:23:04,720 --> 00:23:08,680 Speaker 1: after being thrown from his horse, and her emotions were 376 00:23:08,760 --> 00:23:11,080 Speaker 1: high and she was grieving, and that's what made her 377 00:23:11,119 --> 00:23:15,280 Speaker 1: steal again. She asked at this trial to be committed 378 00:23:15,280 --> 00:23:18,439 Speaker 1: to a lunatic asylum because she said, you know, I 379 00:23:18,520 --> 00:23:23,440 Speaker 1: inherited this mental instability for and kleptomania from my mother. However, 380 00:23:23,560 --> 00:23:27,760 Speaker 1: according to an eight article called Alleged Cleptomania in the 381 00:23:27,800 --> 00:23:32,199 Speaker 1: Otago Daily Times, the judge was quoted as saying, we 382 00:23:32,280 --> 00:23:36,200 Speaker 1: cannot give any support or show any favor to cleptomania. 383 00:23:36,480 --> 00:23:39,240 Speaker 1: It would never do to countenance it. If we did, 384 00:23:39,359 --> 00:23:41,800 Speaker 1: a good many people would soon be found to think 385 00:23:41,840 --> 00:23:47,000 Speaker 1: that they were suffering with that disease. Pretty soon they'll 386 00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:49,560 Speaker 1: I'll be doing it. Wow. So he's worried that people 387 00:23:49,560 --> 00:23:51,800 Speaker 1: are just gonna start stealing, going to court and say, sorry, 388 00:23:51,840 --> 00:23:57,199 Speaker 1: your honor, it's the cleptomania. Wow. I'll say, that's not 389 00:23:57,280 --> 00:24:01,040 Speaker 1: a fair reason to not give people with, you know, 390 00:24:01,119 --> 00:24:05,199 Speaker 1: mental health issues. While if we start giving you the 391 00:24:05,320 --> 00:24:07,680 Speaker 1: things you need to survive, then soon ever one will 392 00:24:07,720 --> 00:24:09,800 Speaker 1: want them. That's what I was just like, there's so 393 00:24:09,840 --> 00:24:13,359 Speaker 1: many ways to tell if somebody stole because they stole, 394 00:24:13,680 --> 00:24:16,520 Speaker 1: and if they stole because it's a compulsion. There's so 395 00:24:16,560 --> 00:24:20,000 Speaker 1: many ways. But of course it's I'm not sure their 396 00:24:20,080 --> 00:24:23,600 Speaker 1: mental health stuff was great, But up to this point 397 00:24:23,720 --> 00:24:28,080 Speaker 1: they've been very forgiving and soft on this particular criminal. 398 00:24:28,400 --> 00:24:31,880 Speaker 1: I will say, I feel that these sentences match the crimes. 399 00:24:32,040 --> 00:24:35,080 Speaker 1: You know, she feels a pound here, you know, thirty 400 00:24:35,080 --> 00:24:37,040 Speaker 1: pounds here and there, and then she works it off 401 00:24:37,160 --> 00:24:39,160 Speaker 1: and then she gets to get out instead of like, 402 00:24:39,480 --> 00:24:41,240 Speaker 1: you're a thief, so we're gonna put you in jail 403 00:24:41,280 --> 00:24:43,080 Speaker 1: for the rest of your life, And they're like, why 404 00:24:43,119 --> 00:24:47,399 Speaker 1: not go out and you know, pay some taxes. At 405 00:24:47,440 --> 00:24:51,160 Speaker 1: the same time, though, they're they're gonna proponents of more 406 00:24:51,240 --> 00:24:53,840 Speaker 1: harsh sentencing are going to point to her and say, see, 407 00:24:53,880 --> 00:24:55,760 Speaker 1: every time you'll let her out, she just did it again, 408 00:24:57,280 --> 00:25:00,840 Speaker 1: repeat offender. Yeah, well she need a different kind of help. 409 00:25:01,160 --> 00:25:04,280 Speaker 1: It's so true. So well, anyway, this this judge did 410 00:25:04,280 --> 00:25:09,119 Speaker 1: not want to say anything about kleptomania or whatever mental instability. 411 00:25:09,200 --> 00:25:11,000 Speaker 1: He's like, you're a thief. That's all I need to know. 412 00:25:11,440 --> 00:25:13,919 Speaker 1: So she got two months in jail this time in 413 00:25:13,960 --> 00:25:17,080 Speaker 1: eight nine, she gets out. She moved to Akaroa on 414 00:25:17,160 --> 00:25:20,320 Speaker 1: Banks Peninsula, and she got a job as a governess 415 00:25:20,440 --> 00:25:23,639 Speaker 1: and she stole some sh it again, her long record 416 00:25:23,720 --> 00:25:25,920 Speaker 1: is working against her now. She got six months for 417 00:25:26,040 --> 00:25:29,040 Speaker 1: larceny and false pretenses. When she got out in eight 418 00:25:29,920 --> 00:25:32,520 Speaker 1: she moved to Dunedin and she forged a letter from 419 00:25:32,520 --> 00:25:37,439 Speaker 1: a woman named Lucinda Edgar saying that Ida Bennett was 420 00:25:37,520 --> 00:25:42,400 Speaker 1: the absolute best housekeeper, governess and companion a person could 421 00:25:42,400 --> 00:25:45,639 Speaker 1: wish for. Then she went and posed as this Ida 422 00:25:45,720 --> 00:25:49,439 Speaker 1: Bennett and she used this letter from Lucinda Edgar to 423 00:25:49,480 --> 00:25:52,879 Speaker 1: get a job as a housekeeper at Mr Cox's house. 424 00:25:53,840 --> 00:25:57,920 Speaker 1: An article from the Otago Witness called quote an artful 425 00:25:57,960 --> 00:26:02,040 Speaker 1: schemer lays out her whole on here, from start to finish. 426 00:26:02,440 --> 00:26:05,720 Speaker 1: First she forges the fake reference, the letter from Loosen 427 00:26:05,760 --> 00:26:08,680 Speaker 1: to Edgar saying I'd have been it's the best. Once 428 00:26:08,720 --> 00:26:11,240 Speaker 1: she had the job, she went to a money lender 429 00:26:11,359 --> 00:26:14,240 Speaker 1: and she said there was a piano at Mr Cox's 430 00:26:14,280 --> 00:26:17,439 Speaker 1: house that belonged to her, and since her brother was 431 00:26:17,480 --> 00:26:21,320 Speaker 1: in desperate financial straits, she wanted to borrow some money 432 00:26:21,400 --> 00:26:26,080 Speaker 1: against this piano. The money lender was like, oh, no problem, 433 00:26:26,119 --> 00:26:28,520 Speaker 1: I'll write you out a bill of sale. Right now, 434 00:26:28,560 --> 00:26:31,680 Speaker 1: but a bill of sale would be registered and that 435 00:26:32,320 --> 00:26:34,640 Speaker 1: would you know, let Mr Cox know what was going 436 00:26:34,680 --> 00:26:37,480 Speaker 1: on here. So she was like, oh no, I don't 437 00:26:37,480 --> 00:26:40,200 Speaker 1: want Mr Cox to find out about this. He would 438 00:26:40,320 --> 00:26:42,720 Speaker 1: turn me out of the house if he knew. But 439 00:26:42,960 --> 00:26:47,399 Speaker 1: I do have a wealthy friend named Mrs Lucinda Edgar 440 00:26:47,560 --> 00:26:49,959 Speaker 1: living in Burnside who will be willing to sign a 441 00:26:50,000 --> 00:26:53,880 Speaker 1: promissory note pledging to pay it all back? Is that okay? 442 00:26:54,119 --> 00:26:57,679 Speaker 1: And the money lenders like sure loosened to Edgar. She 443 00:26:57,840 --> 00:27:02,399 Speaker 1: sounds very wealthy. I'll accept And she ended up getting 444 00:27:03,480 --> 00:27:05,880 Speaker 1: from him again it's quite a bit of money back then. 445 00:27:06,240 --> 00:27:09,119 Speaker 1: And then she told Mr Cox that her dear friend 446 00:27:09,280 --> 00:27:12,879 Speaker 1: Mrs lusen To Edgar was really sick and not expected 447 00:27:12,920 --> 00:27:15,480 Speaker 1: to live, so she was going to go stay with 448 00:27:15,520 --> 00:27:17,840 Speaker 1: her for a few days. And she left him a 449 00:27:17,920 --> 00:27:21,280 Speaker 1: letter like I know I'm leaving and that sucks of me. 450 00:27:21,320 --> 00:27:23,320 Speaker 1: And you've been so good to me, and if you 451 00:27:23,400 --> 00:27:26,040 Speaker 1: need to hire someone new, I completely understand, but I 452 00:27:26,080 --> 00:27:28,160 Speaker 1: hope that you'll be good and kind enough to keep 453 00:27:28,200 --> 00:27:32,359 Speaker 1: my position open when I come back. Well. Mr Cox 454 00:27:32,440 --> 00:27:34,480 Speaker 1: is starting to get a little suspicious. He's like, this 455 00:27:34,560 --> 00:27:38,440 Speaker 1: lady's crazy so he asks around Burnside and he discovers 456 00:27:38,520 --> 00:27:41,560 Speaker 1: there's no such person as a Mrs Lusen to Edgar 457 00:27:41,720 --> 00:27:45,800 Speaker 1: living there. So the cops get called. Amy's tracked down, 458 00:27:46,160 --> 00:27:49,840 Speaker 1: and again, thanks to her long record of previous convictions, 459 00:27:49,880 --> 00:27:55,439 Speaker 1: she's given the maximum sentence three years penal servitude, but 460 00:27:55,680 --> 00:27:57,920 Speaker 1: she gets a few months taken off for good behavior. 461 00:27:58,400 --> 00:28:00,680 Speaker 1: So the whole scheme was us, I'm going to get 462 00:28:00,680 --> 00:28:05,040 Speaker 1: alone and put this piano up as collateral, and all 463 00:28:05,119 --> 00:28:09,800 Speaker 1: that went into this, this whole fake identity, this many letters. 464 00:28:10,280 --> 00:28:12,080 Speaker 1: She probably had to work for the guy for quite 465 00:28:12,119 --> 00:28:15,360 Speaker 1: a while, you know, definitely, and like I think too, 466 00:28:15,359 --> 00:28:17,159 Speaker 1: there were times where they would go talk to the 467 00:28:17,160 --> 00:28:20,120 Speaker 1: postman and wherever these cities were, like Burnside, they would 468 00:28:20,119 --> 00:28:22,680 Speaker 1: go to the Burnside postmaster and be like, hey, you 469 00:28:22,800 --> 00:28:26,440 Speaker 1: got a letter for Lucin to Edgar and they're like, oh, yeah, 470 00:28:26,680 --> 00:28:28,800 Speaker 1: we don't know anyone by that name. So we returned 471 00:28:28,800 --> 00:28:31,040 Speaker 1: all the letters, which of course meant they went to Amy, 472 00:28:31,160 --> 00:28:35,359 Speaker 1: so she was able to respond as the fake person. Anyway, 473 00:28:35,400 --> 00:28:38,120 Speaker 1: It's just insane the amount of letters, Like they talk 474 00:28:38,200 --> 00:28:40,800 Speaker 1: about huge piles of letters that she would write and 475 00:28:41,160 --> 00:28:43,200 Speaker 1: to like keep her frauds going it's just a lot 476 00:28:43,240 --> 00:28:47,360 Speaker 1: of work. It feels like the the extreme hyper version 477 00:28:47,520 --> 00:28:51,040 Speaker 1: of like when middle school kids, like, you know, forge 478 00:28:51,040 --> 00:28:52,640 Speaker 1: a note, Oh he's sick, you can And then some 479 00:28:52,880 --> 00:28:54,640 Speaker 1: they get their friend with a deep voice to answer 480 00:28:54,640 --> 00:28:57,160 Speaker 1: the phone. Oh, yes, this is Mr Jamison. My son 481 00:28:57,280 --> 00:29:00,360 Speaker 1: is very sick today. Come to school for Jamison who 482 00:29:01,200 --> 00:29:04,880 Speaker 1: so Amy gets out of prison in eight two, she 483 00:29:05,000 --> 00:29:08,560 Speaker 1: moves to tim Maru, where she promptly pretends to be 484 00:29:08,680 --> 00:29:13,120 Speaker 1: a wealthy horst who lost her pocketbook. She borrows one 485 00:29:13,160 --> 00:29:16,720 Speaker 1: pound off a school principle, which again that's worth about 486 00:29:16,760 --> 00:29:19,320 Speaker 1: a dred and twenty six pounds today, so she's borrowing 487 00:29:19,440 --> 00:29:22,880 Speaker 1: quite a sum from this like total stranger. And then 488 00:29:22,920 --> 00:29:26,240 Speaker 1: she disappears and she was quickly caught and sentenced to 489 00:29:26,280 --> 00:29:28,640 Speaker 1: a month in prison. And she told the judges that 490 00:29:28,760 --> 00:29:30,880 Speaker 1: she did it because she was really upset that her 491 00:29:30,920 --> 00:29:34,960 Speaker 1: father had died. Except her father was alive and living 492 00:29:35,000 --> 00:29:39,480 Speaker 1: in Melbourne. So maybe that story about her childhood love 493 00:29:39,560 --> 00:29:41,920 Speaker 1: who fell off his horse, and we talked about herlier, 494 00:29:42,080 --> 00:29:45,400 Speaker 1: maybe we don't believe that. I'm not sure that there 495 00:29:45,440 --> 00:29:48,960 Speaker 1: ever was a guy who fell off a horse. In 496 00:29:50,200 --> 00:29:53,880 Speaker 1: three she pawned her landlady's husband's watch, and then she 497 00:29:53,920 --> 00:29:57,440 Speaker 1: committed several other small thefts. She ended up once again 498 00:29:57,440 --> 00:30:00,240 Speaker 1: in prison, this time for six months. Once she got out, 499 00:30:00,560 --> 00:30:03,160 Speaker 1: she moved to Amaru and claimed to have come into 500 00:30:03,200 --> 00:30:05,920 Speaker 1: a big inheritance that she wanted to use to buy 501 00:30:06,040 --> 00:30:09,440 Speaker 1: a six room house to rent out. The second big 502 00:30:09,480 --> 00:30:14,000 Speaker 1: inheritance she borrowed several times from a furniture seller, telling 503 00:30:14,040 --> 00:30:17,440 Speaker 1: him she was planning to spend seventy five pounds furnishing 504 00:30:17,480 --> 00:30:20,520 Speaker 1: this house. She applied for an official membership to the 505 00:30:20,560 --> 00:30:23,480 Speaker 1: Salvation Army, but they found out about her record and 506 00:30:23,520 --> 00:30:25,800 Speaker 1: they said they wouldn't accept her until she had proven 507 00:30:25,840 --> 00:30:30,960 Speaker 1: that she changed her ways, so obviously, her next step 508 00:30:31,480 --> 00:30:36,120 Speaker 1: was to defraud several Salvation Army members out of thirty shillings, 509 00:30:36,120 --> 00:30:38,640 Speaker 1: which is like a little over a pound, by selling 510 00:30:38,640 --> 00:30:42,280 Speaker 1: them tickets to a fake event. Oh you want me 511 00:30:42,360 --> 00:30:44,000 Speaker 1: to prove I changed my ways? Tell you what, I 512 00:30:44,080 --> 00:30:47,360 Speaker 1: got some great tickets to go see the Jamison's tonight. 513 00:30:52,320 --> 00:30:55,400 Speaker 1: So she ran off to Palmerston but was arrested. They're 514 00:30:55,520 --> 00:30:59,520 Speaker 1: brought back and sentenced, this time to four months hard labor. 515 00:31:00,160 --> 00:31:04,880 Speaker 1: She gets out once again, she gets in prison very 516 00:31:04,960 --> 00:31:08,440 Speaker 1: quickly after for not paying her room and board. Damn, 517 00:31:08,640 --> 00:31:11,320 Speaker 1: she's just jack in the box with these prisons. Man, 518 00:31:11,560 --> 00:31:15,080 Speaker 1: she is in and out now. When she was released 519 00:31:15,080 --> 00:31:16,920 Speaker 1: at that point, she was sent to live in a 520 00:31:16,960 --> 00:31:21,480 Speaker 1: house in christ Church, New Zealand for fallen women. You 521 00:31:21,480 --> 00:31:24,240 Speaker 1: know that was run by Catholics, even though she had 522 00:31:24,320 --> 00:31:28,440 Speaker 1: never really been accused or suspected of like promiscuous behavior. 523 00:31:29,080 --> 00:31:31,040 Speaker 1: But they just figured, you know what, you need somebody 524 00:31:31,040 --> 00:31:32,840 Speaker 1: to keep an eye on you. You're a hot mess. 525 00:31:34,080 --> 00:31:36,760 Speaker 1: And there is no record of her time at this house, 526 00:31:37,200 --> 00:31:40,880 Speaker 1: but for nearly five years she did not reoffend whatever 527 00:31:40,880 --> 00:31:43,480 Speaker 1: they were doing there. Maybe it helped out some way, 528 00:31:43,640 --> 00:31:48,960 Speaker 1: somehow she could not scam the nuns slapping her. Yeah, 529 00:31:49,000 --> 00:31:52,480 Speaker 1: they were too quick, maybe because they didn't have anything. 530 00:31:52,800 --> 00:31:55,280 Speaker 1: Now they take a valve poverty, so like there's nothing 531 00:31:55,280 --> 00:31:57,440 Speaker 1: to steal. So I guess I'll just cook and hang out. 532 00:31:58,440 --> 00:32:00,560 Speaker 1: I don't know, sister Mary. I got let her from 533 00:32:00,600 --> 00:32:02,640 Speaker 1: my aunt, who says you need to give me everything 534 00:32:02,640 --> 00:32:06,160 Speaker 1: in your pockets. I gotta let it from God rod here. 535 00:32:06,640 --> 00:32:09,440 Speaker 1: I just sit here and read it. But then in 536 00:32:09,640 --> 00:32:13,920 Speaker 1: nineteen o one, she posed as Miss Sherwin got a 537 00:32:14,000 --> 00:32:18,200 Speaker 1: job as a housekeeper, accumulated large debts and then left 538 00:32:18,240 --> 00:32:22,480 Speaker 1: town and faked Miss Sherwin's death to get out of repay. 539 00:32:22,880 --> 00:32:24,840 Speaker 1: And then a nineteen o two she landed in christ 540 00:32:24,920 --> 00:32:28,000 Speaker 1: Church again under the name of Mary Shannon, and she 541 00:32:28,120 --> 00:32:31,200 Speaker 1: made friends with a well known gardener she like, stayed 542 00:32:31,240 --> 00:32:33,960 Speaker 1: at his house and stuff like that, and she started 543 00:32:34,000 --> 00:32:37,760 Speaker 1: collecting money from all his friends to invest in her 544 00:32:38,120 --> 00:32:43,840 Speaker 1: entirely fake poultry farm. In a nineteen o three article 545 00:32:43,920 --> 00:32:48,200 Speaker 1: from The Evening Post called Remarkable female Swindler, it says 546 00:32:48,280 --> 00:32:52,400 Speaker 1: quote she would supply exact figures of capital and interest, 547 00:32:52,720 --> 00:32:56,000 Speaker 1: terms of mortgage and repayment, et cetera, with as much 548 00:32:56,080 --> 00:33:00,720 Speaker 1: minuteness of detail as a London financier would display. So 549 00:33:00,840 --> 00:33:05,000 Speaker 1: she was very good at maintaining a guise of respectability 550 00:33:05,040 --> 00:33:10,400 Speaker 1: and everything um. This article also details another swindle where 551 00:33:10,440 --> 00:33:12,680 Speaker 1: she basically she just knew the name of this lady 552 00:33:12,720 --> 00:33:15,120 Speaker 1: who lived in a country township, and she knew this 553 00:33:15,200 --> 00:33:17,920 Speaker 1: lady's son was involved at this bank. And then she 554 00:33:18,000 --> 00:33:20,479 Speaker 1: also knew the name of a tradesman in Wellington who 555 00:33:20,560 --> 00:33:24,080 Speaker 1: knew this lady. So she just conjures up a story 556 00:33:24,120 --> 00:33:26,480 Speaker 1: out of her imagination and she shows up at this 557 00:33:26,560 --> 00:33:30,360 Speaker 1: tradesman's place with a letter from the lady saying, Oh, 558 00:33:30,400 --> 00:33:33,480 Speaker 1: my son has some money missing from his account. Would 559 00:33:33,520 --> 00:33:36,640 Speaker 1: you send the missing twenty pounds to me by way 560 00:33:36,680 --> 00:33:43,080 Speaker 1: of this messenger and the tradesman. And the tradesman immediately 561 00:33:43,120 --> 00:33:47,360 Speaker 1: paid it. Amy rides off into the sunset, and the 562 00:33:47,480 --> 00:33:50,800 Speaker 1: article goes on to say, quote, he was so sensitive 563 00:33:50,920 --> 00:33:53,160 Speaker 1: about the way he had been taken in that he 564 00:33:53,440 --> 00:33:58,440 Speaker 1: never prosecuted for this offense. So apparently Amy got away 565 00:33:58,440 --> 00:34:01,760 Speaker 1: with several of her crimes because people were too embarrassed 566 00:34:01,760 --> 00:34:04,560 Speaker 1: to go to the cops. And Yeah, for some reason, 567 00:34:04,600 --> 00:34:08,240 Speaker 1: I decided to pay this total fucking stranger a bunch 568 00:34:08,280 --> 00:34:11,279 Speaker 1: of money for nothing. Very convincing letter. Okay, but this 569 00:34:11,400 --> 00:34:18,880 Speaker 1: letter you don't understand this. I'm just gonna eat that pounds. 570 00:34:19,800 --> 00:34:24,760 Speaker 1: I deserved it. Wow. But with this poultry farm swindle, 571 00:34:25,320 --> 00:34:27,719 Speaker 1: people were not afraid to go to the police. This time, 572 00:34:27,920 --> 00:34:31,160 Speaker 1: she got three years hard labor, but again got some 573 00:34:31,200 --> 00:34:33,440 Speaker 1: time shaved off for good behavior. She was released in 574 00:34:33,520 --> 00:34:35,920 Speaker 1: nineteen o four and she went to live at a 575 00:34:35,960 --> 00:34:39,239 Speaker 1: Salvation Army house in Rakaya, and she found work as 576 00:34:39,239 --> 00:34:46,000 Speaker 1: a housekeeper under the name Amy Chanel until February, she 577 00:34:46,200 --> 00:34:51,080 Speaker 1: was accused of forging a check. Now, uncharacteristically, Amy denied 578 00:34:51,320 --> 00:34:55,040 Speaker 1: doing this. Usually she confessed right away. She always pled 579 00:34:55,080 --> 00:34:57,960 Speaker 1: guilty in court. This time she said it wasn't her 580 00:34:58,440 --> 00:35:00,880 Speaker 1: makes me feel like it probably wasn't know she's a liar, 581 00:35:00,920 --> 00:35:04,840 Speaker 1: but like, she was so frequently honest about their crimes, 582 00:35:04,880 --> 00:35:08,160 Speaker 1: and I'm like, why would she lie this one time? Well, 583 00:35:08,200 --> 00:35:10,680 Speaker 1: whether she was really responsible this time or not, her 584 00:35:10,719 --> 00:35:13,360 Speaker 1: record did work against her and she was sentenced to 585 00:35:13,920 --> 00:35:18,480 Speaker 1: three more years in prison once again, time shaved off 586 00:35:18,480 --> 00:35:21,279 Speaker 1: for good behavior. She was released in two and a 587 00:35:21,320 --> 00:35:25,040 Speaker 1: half years. It's just a same cycle, over and over again. 588 00:35:25,800 --> 00:35:28,359 Speaker 1: She pops up again in nineteen o seven when she 589 00:35:28,400 --> 00:35:32,239 Speaker 1: became friends with a children's theater company and traveled with 590 00:35:32,280 --> 00:35:35,600 Speaker 1: them to Dunedin, and she did have to commit a 591 00:35:35,680 --> 00:35:38,120 Speaker 1: number of small frauds on the way in order to 592 00:35:38,160 --> 00:35:41,799 Speaker 1: maintain her guys as a patron of this company, Like, 593 00:35:41,880 --> 00:35:44,719 Speaker 1: can you donate some money today? And she's like, give 594 00:35:44,760 --> 00:35:48,640 Speaker 1: me a few minutes to write a letter. Yeah, I've 595 00:35:48,680 --> 00:35:51,400 Speaker 1: got this letter from my uncle saying he's about to 596 00:35:51,440 --> 00:35:54,400 Speaker 1: cut you a huge check. He says, the best thing 597 00:35:54,480 --> 00:35:56,480 Speaker 1: for you to do right now actually it says in 598 00:35:56,480 --> 00:35:59,920 Speaker 1: the letter here that you should give me thirty pounds 599 00:36:00,280 --> 00:36:01,840 Speaker 1: and then when he shows up next week, he's going 600 00:36:01,880 --> 00:36:03,719 Speaker 1: to give it back to you. Yeah, no problem, that 601 00:36:04,000 --> 00:36:06,960 Speaker 1: makes sense to me, all right now. In Dunnydin, she 602 00:36:07,080 --> 00:36:10,440 Speaker 1: posed as Agnes Valance and in eight got a job 603 00:36:10,480 --> 00:36:13,880 Speaker 1: as a housekeeper to a nice family called the Roys. 604 00:36:13,920 --> 00:36:16,600 Speaker 1: And they loved her just like everyone did and all 605 00:36:16,640 --> 00:36:20,640 Speaker 1: her past jobs, I mean, just like Percy. She's very charming, 606 00:36:20,800 --> 00:36:23,480 Speaker 1: she's a lovely person. They're like, we trust you, You're 607 00:36:23,840 --> 00:36:27,000 Speaker 1: just a doll, you know what I mean. So when 608 00:36:27,239 --> 00:36:30,040 Speaker 1: the Roy's left for their Christmas trip in December, they 609 00:36:30,040 --> 00:36:35,160 Speaker 1: felt safe leaving everything in Agnes's capable hands, and she 610 00:36:35,280 --> 00:36:38,520 Speaker 1: immediately forged a receipt from Mr Roy saying he had 611 00:36:38,560 --> 00:36:41,600 Speaker 1: sold all his furniture to her, and then turned around 612 00:36:41,680 --> 00:36:44,480 Speaker 1: and used the furniture as collateral for a thirty pound 613 00:36:44,520 --> 00:36:51,839 Speaker 1: loan she got under the name Charlotte's Skevington. Well. Of course, 614 00:36:51,880 --> 00:36:54,239 Speaker 1: when the Roy's returned and found out that all their 615 00:36:54,239 --> 00:36:57,960 Speaker 1: furniture had basically been sold, a warrant was put out 616 00:36:58,000 --> 00:37:00,560 Speaker 1: for Amy's arrest in January of ninety you know nine, 617 00:37:01,239 --> 00:37:06,719 Speaker 1: But by then Amy had found the perfect disguise, Percival 618 00:37:06,840 --> 00:37:11,200 Speaker 1: Leonard Carol Redwood as Percy. She stayed at a respectable 619 00:37:11,239 --> 00:37:14,319 Speaker 1: boarding house in Dunnydin and just like a nugget Point, 620 00:37:14,680 --> 00:37:18,680 Speaker 1: everyone loved Percy. She got several people to loan her money, 621 00:37:18,719 --> 00:37:21,160 Speaker 1: including a cab driver, which is that guy who was 622 00:37:21,200 --> 00:37:23,279 Speaker 1: expecting to get a Persian cat from her and let 623 00:37:23,280 --> 00:37:26,840 Speaker 1: me talked about earlier. Um, that guy gave her thirty pounds. 624 00:37:27,600 --> 00:37:31,520 Speaker 1: Another unnamed young lady gave her another forty pounds. So 625 00:37:31,600 --> 00:37:34,640 Speaker 1: she's just a lot of money from these guys. And 626 00:37:34,719 --> 00:37:38,880 Speaker 1: at this point Amy had been imprisoned thirteen times for 627 00:37:38,920 --> 00:37:43,279 Speaker 1: a total of sixteen years and two months. All those 628 00:37:43,320 --> 00:37:46,920 Speaker 1: little sentences really added up. And that is the Percy 629 00:37:46,960 --> 00:37:50,160 Speaker 1: who showed up at Nugget Point to steal money and 630 00:37:50,320 --> 00:37:53,640 Speaker 1: nesty Ottaway's heart. So let's find out what happened with 631 00:37:53,719 --> 00:38:01,200 Speaker 1: that right after this commercial break, Welcome back everybody. Well. 632 00:38:01,239 --> 00:38:04,680 Speaker 1: By now, Amy of course had a reputation with the police, 633 00:38:05,160 --> 00:38:08,120 Speaker 1: probably in every city in New Zealand and Australia. I 634 00:38:08,120 --> 00:38:11,759 Speaker 1: think I think she might have lived in every city. 635 00:38:13,280 --> 00:38:17,759 Speaker 1: Her reputation firstly was of being curiously moral, like she 636 00:38:17,880 --> 00:38:22,080 Speaker 1: almost always gave away her ill gotten gains, particularly to 637 00:38:22,239 --> 00:38:26,280 Speaker 1: young female servants. According to Jenny Coleman, since her motive 638 00:38:26,360 --> 00:38:29,279 Speaker 1: was rarely monetary gain kind of leads a lot of 639 00:38:29,280 --> 00:38:31,160 Speaker 1: credence to her claims that she had some kind of 640 00:38:31,200 --> 00:38:35,880 Speaker 1: compulsion or mania. Maybe. In that alleged kleptomania article from 641 00:38:35,920 --> 00:38:39,400 Speaker 1: the Ottaga Deli Times, she's quoted as telling the police quote, 642 00:38:40,080 --> 00:38:42,720 Speaker 1: you will see for yourself if you look into the case, 643 00:38:43,000 --> 00:38:46,680 Speaker 1: that nothing I got has been for myself. The temptation 644 00:38:46,800 --> 00:38:50,160 Speaker 1: has always been give, give, never mind where you got 645 00:38:50,239 --> 00:38:52,279 Speaker 1: the things, you can pay for them by and by. 646 00:38:53,719 --> 00:38:57,560 Speaker 1: So I wonder if she even sometimes thinks in her head, 647 00:38:58,000 --> 00:39:00,480 Speaker 1: I will pay this guy back later, right, Yeah, I 648 00:39:00,480 --> 00:39:04,439 Speaker 1: don't know that. There's a lot of malice to her actions. Well, 649 00:39:04,440 --> 00:39:07,759 Speaker 1: and what what does she convince herself? She's got a 650 00:39:07,760 --> 00:39:12,160 Speaker 1: whole different perception. Tell this guy about my aunt's out 651 00:39:12,200 --> 00:39:14,200 Speaker 1: of town. But you know what, I'll just I'll swindle 652 00:39:14,200 --> 00:39:15,719 Speaker 1: of money out of somebody else and I'll pay him 653 00:39:15,760 --> 00:39:19,600 Speaker 1: back with that. She just gets herself into a pattern. Maybe, yeah, 654 00:39:19,600 --> 00:39:21,640 Speaker 1: I say, borrowing from Peter to pay Paul kind of 655 00:39:22,120 --> 00:39:25,600 Speaker 1: she just I wonder if if she if she did 656 00:39:25,640 --> 00:39:27,440 Speaker 1: do that. Ever, he wouldn't hear about it because those 657 00:39:27,440 --> 00:39:31,320 Speaker 1: people wouldn't have reported it. I wonder well. She also 658 00:39:31,360 --> 00:39:34,480 Speaker 1: had a distinguishable pattern to her cons that the police 659 00:39:34,480 --> 00:39:38,840 Speaker 1: were starting to recognize in remarkable female swindler. They write 660 00:39:39,160 --> 00:39:43,000 Speaker 1: quote her stories lacked nothing in plausibility, and she imported 661 00:39:43,080 --> 00:39:46,680 Speaker 1: into them a wealth of natural detail. This, however, was 662 00:39:46,719 --> 00:39:50,400 Speaker 1: not altogether an advantage, as her work was so peculiarly 663 00:39:50,520 --> 00:39:54,160 Speaker 1: her own that the police could generally recognize it. Thus, 664 00:39:54,480 --> 00:39:58,560 Speaker 1: as is not uncommon with great artists, she sometimes suffered 665 00:39:58,840 --> 00:40:03,520 Speaker 1: through her task being too well done. She was so 666 00:40:03,560 --> 00:40:06,960 Speaker 1: good they knew it was hurt that London financier ship, like, oh, 667 00:40:07,040 --> 00:40:10,480 Speaker 1: as soon as we found a really complex scheme, pretty 668 00:40:10,480 --> 00:40:14,440 Speaker 1: sure it's a So when Detective Hunt, who was on 669 00:40:14,480 --> 00:40:18,200 Speaker 1: Amy's case with the Dunedin furniture fraud, heard about all 670 00:40:18,239 --> 00:40:24,080 Speaker 1: these fake relatives, forged letters, small loans and unfulfilled promises, 671 00:40:24,480 --> 00:40:28,120 Speaker 1: he could smell Amy all over it. Do you think 672 00:40:28,120 --> 00:40:30,479 Speaker 1: whenever he was about to crack a case he looked 673 00:40:30,520 --> 00:40:33,600 Speaker 1: up and said, the hunt is on. I hope so 674 00:40:35,440 --> 00:40:37,000 Speaker 1: maybe he as a kid he was like, well, my 675 00:40:37,080 --> 00:40:40,400 Speaker 1: name's Henry Hunt, so I guess I have to either 676 00:40:40,480 --> 00:40:44,719 Speaker 1: become a hunter or a detective. I could either hunt 677 00:40:44,800 --> 00:40:49,839 Speaker 1: animals or the most dangerous game. If only it's been 678 00:40:49,880 --> 00:40:52,480 Speaker 1: around when TV was a thing, he could have had 679 00:40:52,480 --> 00:40:55,319 Speaker 1: his own show, on the Hunt, on the Hunt with 680 00:40:55,360 --> 00:40:59,720 Speaker 1: Henry Hunt. Oh my god, I'm ready. So Detective Hunt 681 00:41:00,040 --> 00:41:02,799 Speaker 1: went to the boarding house in Dunedin where Percy had 682 00:41:02,800 --> 00:41:07,400 Speaker 1: been staying, and he found women's clothes in Percy's room. Okay, 683 00:41:07,440 --> 00:41:10,120 Speaker 1: that's some clue. And then he showed a picture of 684 00:41:10,160 --> 00:41:13,520 Speaker 1: Amy two people in Dunningedin who knew her only as Percy, 685 00:41:13,680 --> 00:41:17,200 Speaker 1: and they were able to immediately identify, Oh, that's Percy. 686 00:41:17,360 --> 00:41:20,280 Speaker 1: So he took himself off to Nugget Point and arrested 687 00:41:20,320 --> 00:41:23,040 Speaker 1: Amy for fraud. From an article in the nineteen o 688 00:41:23,200 --> 00:41:27,160 Speaker 1: nine Evening Star called Amy Bok's Latest Escapade, it says 689 00:41:27,280 --> 00:41:30,279 Speaker 1: quote Miss Ottaway is said to be sick in bed 690 00:41:30,520 --> 00:41:33,399 Speaker 1: after the news was broken to her. No surprise there, 691 00:41:33,920 --> 00:41:37,200 Speaker 1: although her father George has quoted us saying, well, it 692 00:41:37,239 --> 00:41:43,400 Speaker 1: could have been worse. The guy was a girl, but whatever. 693 00:41:44,680 --> 00:41:49,680 Speaker 1: At least she wasn't marrying an actor. Gross would have 694 00:41:49,680 --> 00:41:52,279 Speaker 1: been worse. Maybe it would have been worse if she 695 00:41:52,320 --> 00:41:56,080 Speaker 1: had been legally married to an actual liken Man's and 696 00:41:56,160 --> 00:41:58,120 Speaker 1: he was like, at least she's no, no, we're gonna 697 00:41:58,200 --> 00:42:00,920 Speaker 1: get this marriage anald, and there's I'm done or whatever. 698 00:42:01,000 --> 00:42:03,839 Speaker 1: I don't know, but that's just such a funny question. 699 00:42:04,800 --> 00:42:08,560 Speaker 1: I see George like not even looking up from his newspaper. 700 00:42:09,920 --> 00:42:13,600 Speaker 1: I knew he's something off about him. Now, Amy, as usual, 701 00:42:13,840 --> 00:42:17,040 Speaker 1: confessed immediately. She's just like, I see you know everything. 702 00:42:17,080 --> 00:42:19,560 Speaker 1: I'll go right with you. And she went quietly with 703 00:42:19,600 --> 00:42:22,160 Speaker 1: Detective Hunt to jail. He said, the game is up, Amy, 704 00:42:22,200 --> 00:42:24,879 Speaker 1: and she's like, there is. I guess it is. Now 705 00:42:25,239 --> 00:42:28,600 Speaker 1: we go. She's like, how a Detective Hunt. Good to 706 00:42:28,600 --> 00:42:31,080 Speaker 1: see you again. Oh my god, you're still on this 707 00:42:32,040 --> 00:42:36,319 Speaker 1: So okay, Why why this elaborate con Why why fake 708 00:42:36,440 --> 00:42:43,239 Speaker 1: this whole romance with NeSSI and propose? And yeah? Some 709 00:42:43,320 --> 00:42:46,560 Speaker 1: people today have suggested that Amy might be a lesbian 710 00:42:46,680 --> 00:42:50,320 Speaker 1: or even a transman, but there's really not much evidence 711 00:42:50,320 --> 00:42:53,000 Speaker 1: to support that. She never intended to stay with Nessie 712 00:42:53,120 --> 00:42:55,960 Speaker 1: after the marriage. In fact, she planned to leave for 713 00:42:56,040 --> 00:42:59,160 Speaker 1: Melbourne for their honeymoon and shake Nessie off along the 714 00:42:59,200 --> 00:43:02,200 Speaker 1: way and then leave her a note explaining the whole 715 00:43:02,200 --> 00:43:06,319 Speaker 1: shamo which you know, in which case, she would have 716 00:43:06,360 --> 00:43:08,959 Speaker 1: abandoned her in Melbourne, you know, in a strange town 717 00:43:09,040 --> 00:43:11,320 Speaker 1: without her on the way to Melbourne, not even it 718 00:43:11,360 --> 00:43:15,200 Speaker 1: could have been somewhere totally random, and for Nesty would 719 00:43:15,200 --> 00:43:16,640 Speaker 1: been like, well, how am I supposed to get home? 720 00:43:16,640 --> 00:43:19,000 Speaker 1: All he got his letter finding my husband's a lady. 721 00:43:19,160 --> 00:43:21,120 Speaker 1: I don't know what is going on. But in addition 722 00:43:21,160 --> 00:43:23,160 Speaker 1: to that, the only time that she ever dressed as 723 00:43:23,200 --> 00:43:25,880 Speaker 1: a man was to commit fraud or hide from the 724 00:43:25,920 --> 00:43:29,560 Speaker 1: consequences of her fraud. So Jenny Coleman thinks that it's 725 00:43:29,560 --> 00:43:32,279 Speaker 1: more likely this was just the thrill of the con 726 00:43:32,400 --> 00:43:35,200 Speaker 1: for Amy, like how far she could take it, how 727 00:43:35,239 --> 00:43:37,400 Speaker 1: far she could be believed, you know, like an extreme 728 00:43:37,560 --> 00:43:40,960 Speaker 1: sport for her. Almost Yeah, you know, I wonder if 729 00:43:40,960 --> 00:43:43,960 Speaker 1: I could I wonder if I could convince a woman 730 00:43:43,960 --> 00:43:47,200 Speaker 1: to marry me as this girl. I imagine that Nesty 731 00:43:47,280 --> 00:43:51,000 Speaker 1: maybe got a little flirtatious at some point, and you know, 732 00:43:51,080 --> 00:43:55,200 Speaker 1: she's like as Percy, She's like, Wow, my disguises working great. 733 00:43:55,560 --> 00:43:58,640 Speaker 1: I kind of want to see how far Ago I 734 00:43:58,640 --> 00:44:00,720 Speaker 1: could get all the way to a doubt read with Okay, 735 00:44:00,760 --> 00:44:03,000 Speaker 1: Eventually she's like, what if I asked her to marry me? 736 00:44:03,000 --> 00:44:05,799 Speaker 1: Wouldn't that be so funny? Hey girl, would you marry me? 737 00:44:05,840 --> 00:44:09,719 Speaker 1: And she's like, okay, oh shit, she said, yes, that 738 00:44:10,120 --> 00:44:12,279 Speaker 1: was dumb. I guess we're having a wedding. I don't 739 00:44:12,280 --> 00:44:13,880 Speaker 1: know what I am about to take off my clothes. 740 00:44:15,560 --> 00:44:19,399 Speaker 1: I guess I'm sleeping in my tuxedo right, which, by 741 00:44:19,440 --> 00:44:22,000 Speaker 1: the way, how lucky? Or do you think it was 742 00:44:22,080 --> 00:44:26,840 Speaker 1: even her suggestion, like, well, you know, I haven't proved 743 00:44:26,840 --> 00:44:29,600 Speaker 1: my money yet, so maybe you should make us sleep 744 00:44:29,600 --> 00:44:32,520 Speaker 1: in separate rooms. I wondered that too. I don't know 745 00:44:32,560 --> 00:44:34,239 Speaker 1: if it was her suggestion or if she was just 746 00:44:34,320 --> 00:44:37,080 Speaker 1: super relieved that he suggested that. I like to think 747 00:44:37,120 --> 00:44:40,960 Speaker 1: speculation station. She went to the dad and said, how 748 00:44:41,200 --> 00:44:45,480 Speaker 1: how dare you let an unproven man with open debts 749 00:44:45,719 --> 00:44:47,760 Speaker 1: stay in the same room as your daughter. I wouldn't 750 00:44:47,760 --> 00:44:49,520 Speaker 1: want a father in law like you. And he was like, 751 00:44:49,560 --> 00:44:53,880 Speaker 1: oh my god, goodness, well you better sleep in separate rooms. 752 00:44:54,960 --> 00:44:57,920 Speaker 1: That's more like you, Percy. I'd hate to disappoint you. 753 00:44:59,400 --> 00:45:03,920 Speaker 1: Whatever you want. It's such a stand up guy. And again, 754 00:45:03,960 --> 00:45:06,439 Speaker 1: in addition to all this behavior, her schemes never really 755 00:45:06,480 --> 00:45:10,840 Speaker 1: benefited her or sometimes even anyone, Like those coffins nobody 756 00:45:10,880 --> 00:45:14,680 Speaker 1: got anything out of that. It's just hilarious, just the 757 00:45:14,800 --> 00:45:17,759 Speaker 1: thrill of the lie for Amy, you know, figuring out 758 00:45:17,800 --> 00:45:19,879 Speaker 1: the story, acting the part to get her, just trying 759 00:45:19,880 --> 00:45:22,160 Speaker 1: to see what she can get away with rather than 760 00:45:22,280 --> 00:45:24,040 Speaker 1: you know, the stuff for the money that she got 761 00:45:24,040 --> 00:45:27,120 Speaker 1: out of it. Sometimes and I get it because I'll 762 00:45:27,120 --> 00:45:29,719 Speaker 1: tell you, hearing the story, there is a part of 763 00:45:29,719 --> 00:45:32,319 Speaker 1: me deep down inside that's like I want to try this. 764 00:45:32,680 --> 00:45:35,239 Speaker 1: I mean, you know I wouldn't. I'm not a very 765 00:45:35,280 --> 00:45:37,040 Speaker 1: good I'm not going to keep in a lot of 766 00:45:37,040 --> 00:45:39,920 Speaker 1: lies together in my head, but I could totally see 767 00:45:39,960 --> 00:45:43,160 Speaker 1: how it would be. Um, you know, we all like 768 00:45:43,280 --> 00:45:45,080 Speaker 1: to be good at something, and I think she was 769 00:45:45,120 --> 00:45:47,320 Speaker 1: really good at this, and she just felt good doing 770 00:45:47,360 --> 00:45:49,279 Speaker 1: it because she's like, I'm good at it. And then 771 00:45:49,280 --> 00:45:51,399 Speaker 1: she maybe felt like because I give it away, I'm 772 00:45:51,400 --> 00:45:54,000 Speaker 1: not a bad person because so like people are getting 773 00:45:54,080 --> 00:45:57,000 Speaker 1: hurt there, you know trades, people are losing money and 774 00:45:57,480 --> 00:45:59,839 Speaker 1: people losing their savings and I don't know if they 775 00:45:59,840 --> 00:46:03,239 Speaker 1: have recouped that or what happened with the money. But 776 00:46:03,320 --> 00:46:05,840 Speaker 1: like she felt like she wasn't a bad person because 777 00:46:05,840 --> 00:46:08,960 Speaker 1: she was giving it away, So I'm okay in the 778 00:46:09,000 --> 00:46:13,239 Speaker 1: long run or something. I feel like I could do it. Well. 779 00:46:13,280 --> 00:46:15,719 Speaker 1: I'm very good at keeping many lies up in the 780 00:46:15,719 --> 00:46:17,920 Speaker 1: air at once, and I don't care about people's feelings 781 00:46:18,000 --> 00:46:22,640 Speaker 1: or anything like. I'm just so lazypath in that way. Yeah, 782 00:46:22,680 --> 00:46:26,720 Speaker 1: it's just a lazy sociopath. I'm so glad. The worst kind, 783 00:46:26,960 --> 00:46:30,640 Speaker 1: motivated sociopaths scary. Oh yeah, I guess the lazy sociopath 784 00:46:30,680 --> 00:46:33,120 Speaker 1: is the best kind, the only kind you can live with. 785 00:46:34,000 --> 00:46:37,440 Speaker 1: Trust me. Well. The day after Percy was arrested, the 786 00:46:37,520 --> 00:46:40,319 Speaker 1: press got ahold of the story, and they probably ran 787 00:46:40,360 --> 00:46:42,680 Speaker 1: out of inc they got so many headlines after it. 788 00:46:42,840 --> 00:46:45,600 Speaker 1: Of course, this is a big, funny, hilarious thing, that 789 00:46:45,680 --> 00:46:48,080 Speaker 1: this lady was just like a man and stuff like that. 790 00:46:48,719 --> 00:46:51,759 Speaker 1: It's like the story of the century. In fact, she 791 00:46:51,920 --> 00:46:55,560 Speaker 1: was so ubiquitous in the headlines that one anonymous person 792 00:46:55,760 --> 00:46:59,760 Speaker 1: was so fed up they sent a very long poem 793 00:46:59,800 --> 00:47:02,800 Speaker 1: about how sick and tired they were of Amy Boch 794 00:47:03,320 --> 00:47:06,919 Speaker 1: to the Observer, where it was published in full May nine, 795 00:47:07,160 --> 00:47:12,719 Speaker 1: o nine. And it is hilarious, so funny, But it 796 00:47:12,800 --> 00:47:15,040 Speaker 1: is like five minutes long. So we'll finish up the 797 00:47:15,040 --> 00:47:17,799 Speaker 1: story here, but please stick around at the end. Of 798 00:47:17,800 --> 00:47:23,200 Speaker 1: the show, we will redo the entire lugubrious lament. So 799 00:47:23,360 --> 00:47:25,680 Speaker 1: Amy went to trial at the end of May nineteen 800 00:47:25,680 --> 00:47:29,680 Speaker 1: o nine to face two counts of false pretenses, one 801 00:47:29,719 --> 00:47:33,560 Speaker 1: of forgery and one for making a false declaration under 802 00:47:33,600 --> 00:47:36,520 Speaker 1: the Marriage Act. So this is not only for the 803 00:47:36,560 --> 00:47:39,600 Speaker 1: sham wedding but also that furniture fraud back in Dunedin 804 00:47:39,920 --> 00:47:43,200 Speaker 1: where she sold all her employers furniture. Um. She was 805 00:47:43,239 --> 00:47:46,520 Speaker 1: sentenced to two years hard labor. And at this point 806 00:47:46,560 --> 00:47:51,560 Speaker 1: she was also finally declared an habitual criminal um, which 807 00:47:51,719 --> 00:47:56,640 Speaker 1: I'm starting to think you might do this again fulls 808 00:47:59,680 --> 00:48:04,279 Speaker 1: not time UM. That basically meant that she would be 809 00:48:04,360 --> 00:48:07,520 Speaker 1: detained in prison until quote such a time as the 810 00:48:07,600 --> 00:48:10,720 Speaker 1: governor is convinced that she can be granted her liberty 811 00:48:10,800 --> 00:48:18,320 Speaker 1: with perfect safety to the public immediately. I'm Amy's uncle, 812 00:48:18,640 --> 00:48:23,000 Speaker 1: Jamison the second, and I think she's great. She's gonna 813 00:48:23,080 --> 00:48:26,279 Speaker 1: be fine that around immediately, Yours very sincere, and if 814 00:48:26,320 --> 00:48:29,600 Speaker 1: you could drop on your way out back next week, 815 00:48:30,360 --> 00:48:33,640 Speaker 1: don't worry, I'm good for it. According to the New 816 00:48:33,719 --> 00:48:36,840 Speaker 1: Zealand Geographic, Amy is the first woman in New Zealand 817 00:48:36,840 --> 00:48:40,480 Speaker 1: to be classified and a bit of criminal and apparently 818 00:48:40,800 --> 00:48:43,920 Speaker 1: at this trial that Ottaways put in a petition to 819 00:48:43,960 --> 00:48:48,200 Speaker 1: the judge for leniency on Amy. Now that tells you 820 00:48:48,280 --> 00:48:51,359 Speaker 1: how likable she was in my opinion. Like, they're straight up, like, 821 00:48:51,440 --> 00:48:54,600 Speaker 1: we still have to petition the Supreme Court to and 822 00:48:54,719 --> 00:48:57,399 Speaker 1: all our daughter's marriage to you. But you're just such 823 00:48:57,440 --> 00:49:02,759 Speaker 1: a nice guy, I mean, lady, go easy on him, 824 00:49:02,880 --> 00:49:07,279 Speaker 1: I mean her. Wow, oh my god. Also, you know, 825 00:49:07,400 --> 00:49:13,640 Speaker 1: congratulations women for breaking the glass ceiling of habitual criminal criminality. Now, 826 00:49:13,640 --> 00:49:17,640 Speaker 1: that same year, in June, Nessie Ottaway petitioned the Supreme 827 00:49:17,680 --> 00:49:19,480 Speaker 1: Court to a null her marriage like we said, and 828 00:49:19,520 --> 00:49:22,759 Speaker 1: of course they did right away. In nineteen ten, she 829 00:49:22,920 --> 00:49:27,200 Speaker 1: married a stock inspector and widower twenty years older than herself. Now. 830 00:49:27,200 --> 00:49:30,960 Speaker 1: He died in nineteen eighteen, and in nineteen seven Nessie 831 00:49:31,040 --> 00:49:33,880 Speaker 1: married again to a soldier that she'd known since he 832 00:49:33,920 --> 00:49:36,760 Speaker 1: was a young boy in their childhood. During the trial, 833 00:49:37,200 --> 00:49:40,279 Speaker 1: many of the people Amy had defrauded cashed in on 834 00:49:40,320 --> 00:49:43,240 Speaker 1: the craze around her name, and they auctioned off Amy's 835 00:49:43,280 --> 00:49:47,320 Speaker 1: wedding suit and Nessie's engagement ring to recoup their losses. 836 00:49:47,640 --> 00:49:50,440 Speaker 1: I love the whole town coming together, holding up the Hey, 837 00:49:50,600 --> 00:49:54,280 Speaker 1: let's get paid back by selling this ship. All right, everyone, 838 00:49:54,600 --> 00:49:57,600 Speaker 1: bring me your receipt. We'll put the numbs down. We'll 839 00:49:57,600 --> 00:50:01,200 Speaker 1: see what we can get. I've got four letters from 840 00:50:01,200 --> 00:50:07,200 Speaker 1: Amy's ants. Got bad news for you. Amy also sold 841 00:50:07,239 --> 00:50:10,240 Speaker 1: some things to pay her lawyers, but her lawyers donated 842 00:50:10,280 --> 00:50:13,319 Speaker 1: most of their feet and nessy, that was nice of them, right. 843 00:50:13,840 --> 00:50:17,319 Speaker 1: An article called Amy Bok's Latest Escapade, published in The 844 00:50:17,320 --> 00:50:21,520 Speaker 1: Evening Star in nineteen nine, spends a whole paragraph talking 845 00:50:21,600 --> 00:50:24,719 Speaker 1: about how Amy looked so much like a man that 846 00:50:24,840 --> 00:50:27,799 Speaker 1: she could have deceived anyone. They even kind of sound 847 00:50:27,920 --> 00:50:30,520 Speaker 1: like a little mad about It made us sort of laugh, 848 00:50:30,560 --> 00:50:33,440 Speaker 1: so we wanted to read most of this letter here. Quote. 849 00:50:34,280 --> 00:50:37,040 Speaker 1: Men without knowledge of her identity would not have taken 850 00:50:37,040 --> 00:50:40,160 Speaker 1: the dapper individual and bridegroom gray to be a woman. 851 00:50:40,680 --> 00:50:44,319 Speaker 1: Many women, indeed, have turned eager eyes on less attractive men, 852 00:50:44,400 --> 00:50:47,160 Speaker 1: and this woman are tired as a man. The way 853 00:50:47,200 --> 00:50:49,440 Speaker 1: she had her hands sunk into the pockets of a 854 00:50:49,520 --> 00:50:52,160 Speaker 1: light gray overcoat was the way of a man. She 855 00:50:52,320 --> 00:50:55,040 Speaker 1: walked with the slight stoop of the scholar, but with 856 00:50:55,120 --> 00:50:58,440 Speaker 1: a firm tread. The back of her head was a man's, 857 00:50:58,719 --> 00:51:01,800 Speaker 1: from the back rim of a colored cat placed jauntily 858 00:51:01,840 --> 00:51:04,560 Speaker 1: on the head to the collar of the overcoat. Her 859 00:51:04,600 --> 00:51:07,120 Speaker 1: hair was shorn like that of a man on parade 860 00:51:07,480 --> 00:51:09,839 Speaker 1: or that of a man who gets his sixpence worth 861 00:51:09,880 --> 00:51:14,360 Speaker 1: from the barber every time. In a word, the woman 862 00:51:14,600 --> 00:51:18,160 Speaker 1: was a man. Her walk was not womanly. Most men 863 00:51:18,280 --> 00:51:21,000 Speaker 1: know how women walk, and this woman walked more like 864 00:51:21,080 --> 00:51:26,080 Speaker 1: a man fond of easy fitting trousers. Altogether, one could 865 00:51:26,120 --> 00:51:29,320 Speaker 1: easily understand why women have been deceived by this woman. 866 00:51:29,880 --> 00:51:33,319 Speaker 1: As showing how men were deceived, it is interesting to 867 00:51:33,400 --> 00:51:36,480 Speaker 1: mention that the bridegroom was measured and suited at the 868 00:51:36,520 --> 00:51:40,880 Speaker 1: New Zealand clothing factory, and although her petite form required 869 00:51:40,920 --> 00:51:44,080 Speaker 1: nothing more than thirteen and a half for collars and shirts, 870 00:51:44,480 --> 00:51:52,000 Speaker 1: no one suspected anything amiss, not even the measurer. I 871 00:51:52,000 --> 00:51:54,600 Speaker 1: I am obsessed with this paragraph. They go on and 872 00:51:54,600 --> 00:51:58,400 Speaker 1: on about the most random characteristics that an assigning gender 873 00:51:58,480 --> 00:52:00,520 Speaker 1: to the way you walk or the way her hands 874 00:52:00,560 --> 00:52:03,400 Speaker 1: in your pockets, and they're like the back of her 875 00:52:03,440 --> 00:52:05,279 Speaker 1: head was a man. She was even wearing a hat 876 00:52:05,400 --> 00:52:10,600 Speaker 1: like the What was I supposed to think? I mean, 877 00:52:10,680 --> 00:52:16,279 Speaker 1: she had a overcoat on. I can always tell me. 878 00:52:16,800 --> 00:52:19,759 Speaker 1: This article also goes on to say, quote the accused, 879 00:52:19,800 --> 00:52:22,920 Speaker 1: it might be mentioned, is a very temperate woman. She 880 00:52:23,000 --> 00:52:25,560 Speaker 1: never drinks, but on the day of her wedding, in 881 00:52:25,680 --> 00:52:29,880 Speaker 1: order to play her part, she took seven whiskeys, which 882 00:52:29,960 --> 00:52:34,880 Speaker 1: she says nearly killed her. Oh no, that's right, whiskey 883 00:52:34,960 --> 00:52:38,400 Speaker 1: nearly kills me right now. Well, she was really committed 884 00:52:38,400 --> 00:52:41,440 Speaker 1: to the part dairy committed. She was ready to drink 885 00:52:41,480 --> 00:52:43,920 Speaker 1: the funk out of whatever I'm like. Well, she had 886 00:52:43,920 --> 00:52:46,120 Speaker 1: fallen down, no wonder, she crawled into bed and her 887 00:52:46,120 --> 00:52:51,040 Speaker 1: suit she has probably wasted. Amy spent two more years 888 00:52:51,080 --> 00:52:53,680 Speaker 1: in jail, and when she was released in nineteen eleven, 889 00:52:53,760 --> 00:52:57,320 Speaker 1: she moved to Mocow, where, according to a biography written 890 00:52:57,320 --> 00:53:01,640 Speaker 1: by Fiona Farrell, she quote organized any entertainments and plays 891 00:53:01,760 --> 00:53:05,239 Speaker 1: and was the life of the district. In November of 892 00:53:05,320 --> 00:53:08,840 Speaker 1: nineteen fourteen, Amy got married. This time, as the papers 893 00:53:08,880 --> 00:53:13,520 Speaker 1: were careful to point out as the bride, she married 894 00:53:13,520 --> 00:53:17,680 Speaker 1: a Swedish guy named Charles Edward Christofferson, and according to 895 00:53:17,719 --> 00:53:21,759 Speaker 1: Fiona Farrell, they parted within a year because of Amy's debts, 896 00:53:21,800 --> 00:53:25,000 Speaker 1: but in a headstuff dot org article called Amy Bach 897 00:53:25,080 --> 00:53:29,440 Speaker 1: the feminine bridegroom by Kieran Conliffe. It says that he 898 00:53:29,640 --> 00:53:32,399 Speaker 1: was a heavy drinker who abandoned her after a couple 899 00:53:32,440 --> 00:53:35,200 Speaker 1: of years and left her destitute. Yeah, I'm not sure 900 00:53:35,239 --> 00:53:38,719 Speaker 1: which is accurate. There's a very different stories right right, 901 00:53:39,680 --> 00:53:44,799 Speaker 1: with very different feelings on my part right now. Either way, 902 00:53:45,080 --> 00:53:47,520 Speaker 1: she was still up to her old tricks. In nineteen 903 00:53:47,600 --> 00:53:51,440 Speaker 1: seventeen she was fined twenty pounds for theft, and then 904 00:53:51,480 --> 00:53:54,279 Speaker 1: she moved to Hamilton's And in nineteen thirty one she 905 00:53:54,400 --> 00:53:58,640 Speaker 1: faced five charges of obtaining money through false pretenses. That 906 00:53:58,840 --> 00:54:03,200 Speaker 1: that old. She loves charge false pretenses, that's her way 907 00:54:03,239 --> 00:54:06,120 Speaker 1: of life. She was seventy one years old at that point, 908 00:54:06,200 --> 00:54:08,440 Speaker 1: so they just sentenced hearted two years of probation on 909 00:54:08,480 --> 00:54:11,399 Speaker 1: the condition that she lived in a Salvation Army home 910 00:54:11,440 --> 00:54:15,080 Speaker 1: for the elderly. Now, Amy died in the year nineteen 911 00:54:15,160 --> 00:54:19,000 Speaker 1: forty three, and weirdly, she is in an unmarked grave 912 00:54:19,200 --> 00:54:23,160 Speaker 1: in a Puka Cohe cemetery. Yeah, considering how obsessed everyone 913 00:54:23,320 --> 00:54:25,520 Speaker 1: was with her story, it's odd to me that they 914 00:54:25,520 --> 00:54:29,080 Speaker 1: wouldn't mark her grave. But maybe we've heard before. I 915 00:54:29,160 --> 00:54:31,240 Speaker 1: can't remember who I'm thinking of, but I've heard before 916 00:54:31,280 --> 00:54:33,920 Speaker 1: about people who were marked who were buried in unmarked 917 00:54:33,920 --> 00:54:38,239 Speaker 1: graves so that people didn't go flock to them and 918 00:54:38,320 --> 00:54:41,000 Speaker 1: desecrated and like turn it into a whole tourist site. 919 00:54:41,280 --> 00:54:44,719 Speaker 1: It's like almost more respectful, like let's let this woman 920 00:54:44,800 --> 00:54:46,799 Speaker 1: lay in peace here, Like who knows if we put 921 00:54:46,840 --> 00:54:50,400 Speaker 1: her name on it, someone's going to steal the tombstone 922 00:54:50,760 --> 00:54:55,200 Speaker 1: down the road? Did she die in or did a 923 00:54:55,320 --> 00:55:00,840 Speaker 1: letter say she did so? Sorry? Amy spec reulation station. 924 00:55:01,760 --> 00:55:06,360 Speaker 1: Amy Bach was a con the whole time. She's actually 925 00:55:07,640 --> 00:55:14,400 Speaker 1: Jamison two of Wellington alive and well sheep farmer who 926 00:55:14,560 --> 00:55:17,439 Speaker 1: who put on this whole ruse of a con artist, wow, 927 00:55:18,280 --> 00:55:19,640 Speaker 1: just to see if he could, to see if he 928 00:55:19,680 --> 00:55:25,240 Speaker 1: could Percy was the real one all along. Oh my god, 929 00:55:25,360 --> 00:55:30,719 Speaker 1: I love this story. Amy Bach is insane and so interesting, 930 00:55:30,840 --> 00:55:34,200 Speaker 1: like against this sort of robin Hood tendencies, all of 931 00:55:34,239 --> 00:55:37,560 Speaker 1: these tiny I mean tiny is not really accurate because 932 00:55:37,560 --> 00:55:39,640 Speaker 1: it's still in the thousands of dollars, but they're still 933 00:55:39,680 --> 00:55:44,560 Speaker 1: pretty small cons. She usually didn't keep anything, like, she 934 00:55:45,000 --> 00:55:48,520 Speaker 1: didn't have a lot of money or wealth herself. She 935 00:55:48,719 --> 00:55:50,960 Speaker 1: just seemed and she was such a good like people 936 00:55:51,000 --> 00:55:53,160 Speaker 1: loved her. They were just like I want to be 937 00:55:53,160 --> 00:55:57,719 Speaker 1: your friend. I just think that's so interesting. So thank 938 00:55:57,760 --> 00:55:59,920 Speaker 1: you again to Simon for this suggestion. This was a 939 00:56:00,040 --> 00:56:04,640 Speaker 1: really fun research project, really fun story to hear about, 940 00:56:04,719 --> 00:56:08,440 Speaker 1: and I love doing my terrible exits. I think it 941 00:56:08,520 --> 00:56:10,960 Speaker 1: improved throughout the episode. I know it did, but then 942 00:56:11,000 --> 00:56:15,200 Speaker 1: I also probably got worse sometimes, who knows. Look, this 943 00:56:15,200 --> 00:56:18,439 Speaker 1: story ain't over. We have a very very fun poem, 944 00:56:18,480 --> 00:56:22,920 Speaker 1: important poem to read. So let's all go down to 945 00:56:23,000 --> 00:56:25,880 Speaker 1: poetry Corner and hear the letter that this anonymous person 946 00:56:25,920 --> 00:56:30,120 Speaker 1: sent to a newspaper called the Irrepressible Amy b a 947 00:56:30,239 --> 00:56:35,400 Speaker 1: lugubrious lament. Oh listen to my tearful and kindly wipe 948 00:56:35,400 --> 00:56:39,040 Speaker 1: a weep away. But watch please that you do not 949 00:56:39,320 --> 00:56:44,400 Speaker 1: say Amy Bach, for Oh, that name has got me down, 950 00:56:44,840 --> 00:56:48,880 Speaker 1: gives rise to a ferocious frown. This name obsesses all 951 00:56:49,000 --> 00:56:53,879 Speaker 1: the town Amy Bach. The daily papers Philip space by 952 00:56:53,920 --> 00:56:59,320 Speaker 1: reproducing Amy's face and everywhere these words you trace Amy Buck. 953 00:57:00,040 --> 00:57:03,800 Speaker 1: They publish with ecstatic glee, long yarns about her pedigree. 954 00:57:03,960 --> 00:57:08,160 Speaker 1: Their whole contents appear to be Amy back. They serve 955 00:57:08,239 --> 00:57:13,400 Speaker 1: up columns every day detailing Amy's winning way. They metaphorically 956 00:57:13,520 --> 00:57:18,040 Speaker 1: flay Amy Bach her past career in lurid light they 957 00:57:18,080 --> 00:57:21,240 Speaker 1: placed before the public site. They don't at all object 958 00:57:21,320 --> 00:57:26,720 Speaker 1: to slight, Amy Bach. Those thrones may totter, Empire's fault, 959 00:57:26,880 --> 00:57:31,640 Speaker 1: The pestilence abroad may crawl. The dailies put before them 960 00:57:31,720 --> 00:57:36,920 Speaker 1: all Amy Buck, the weighty cable, Graham's intrude. The dailies 961 00:57:37,000 --> 00:57:39,680 Speaker 1: think it would be rude because of these things to 962 00:57:39,840 --> 00:57:44,120 Speaker 1: exclude Amy Back. When in the car you chance to ride, 963 00:57:44,320 --> 00:57:48,280 Speaker 1: it makes you feel like homicide to hear folk mutter 964 00:57:48,360 --> 00:57:52,760 Speaker 1: loud with pride, Amy Bach. And even when you pay 965 00:57:52,800 --> 00:57:56,560 Speaker 1: your fare, the conductor, with a far off stair exclaims, 966 00:57:56,680 --> 00:58:01,200 Speaker 1: as you are well aware, Amy Bach. Again in desperations, 967 00:58:01,240 --> 00:58:04,160 Speaker 1: say you go perchance to see the play the Prose 968 00:58:04,240 --> 00:58:09,960 Speaker 1: Dragon in subtle way, Amy Bark. So there you find 969 00:58:09,960 --> 00:58:12,680 Speaker 1: no rest or cure. It adds to pains that you 970 00:58:12,840 --> 00:58:18,120 Speaker 1: endure to find. They've named the overture, Amy Bark. To 971 00:58:18,240 --> 00:58:21,200 Speaker 1: seek relief, We'll say, maybe you go a fishing on 972 00:58:21,320 --> 00:58:26,240 Speaker 1: the sea to banish with celerity, Amy Bark, tis unavailing. 973 00:58:26,240 --> 00:58:30,360 Speaker 1: All the same, you feel well, anything but tame to 974 00:58:30,520 --> 00:58:35,440 Speaker 1: meet a yacht that owns the name Amy Bach in 975 00:58:35,600 --> 00:58:39,640 Speaker 1: frantic frenzy neath the strain you go to save your 976 00:58:39,680 --> 00:58:45,360 Speaker 1: toppering brain a modest stimulant to drain Amy Bark, unless 977 00:58:45,640 --> 00:58:49,120 Speaker 1: you feel you're doubly banned to find tis more than 978 00:58:49,160 --> 00:58:54,400 Speaker 1: you can stand that they've renamed your favorite brand Amy Bark. 979 00:58:55,520 --> 00:58:58,000 Speaker 1: You go to buy a Sunday tie. The shopman looks 980 00:58:58,040 --> 00:59:00,360 Speaker 1: you in the eye and answers, yes, sir, will you 981 00:59:00,440 --> 00:59:05,160 Speaker 1: try Amy Boch, And with insinuating smile, he says, it 982 00:59:05,320 --> 00:59:08,920 Speaker 1: is the latest style. We've named it as tis free 983 00:59:08,960 --> 00:59:13,800 Speaker 1: from guile Amy Bok. When traveling on a railway train, 984 00:59:14,000 --> 00:59:19,200 Speaker 1: you find tis absolutely vain to try and banish from 985 00:59:19,200 --> 00:59:23,920 Speaker 1: your brain Amy Bark. For as the wheels go round 986 00:59:24,000 --> 00:59:28,080 Speaker 1: and round, and even in the pistons pound, you hear 987 00:59:28,320 --> 00:59:36,040 Speaker 1: but one incessant sound, a buck again for sweet relief. 988 00:59:36,080 --> 00:59:39,480 Speaker 1: To search, you pay a visit to a church, attempting 989 00:59:39,520 --> 00:59:43,520 Speaker 1: to leave in the lurch Amy bach alas you find 990 00:59:43,560 --> 00:59:48,160 Speaker 1: no antidote, because the organs every note drones out the 991 00:59:48,200 --> 00:59:55,720 Speaker 1: words as if by rote Amy Balk again in horror, 992 00:59:55,800 --> 00:59:59,240 Speaker 1: off you fly with murder gleaming in your eyes, and 993 00:59:59,560 --> 01:00:03,919 Speaker 1: there he fears deeds. If you've got nigh Amy Bok good, 994 01:00:04,720 --> 01:00:08,200 Speaker 1: then on your homeward way you steer, but when you 995 01:00:08,280 --> 01:00:12,520 Speaker 1: get there, sad and drear, these fatal words fall on 996 01:00:12,680 --> 01:00:18,560 Speaker 1: your ear. Amy Buck, the very household cat can do 997 01:00:18,640 --> 01:00:22,480 Speaker 1: not else but sit and sadly mew yowling, or so 998 01:00:22,640 --> 01:00:27,640 Speaker 1: it seems to you, Amy Back. And in the rooster, 999 01:00:27,880 --> 01:00:30,880 Speaker 1: scornful crow. There seems to be that name you know 1000 01:00:31,360 --> 01:00:35,440 Speaker 1: too well, that name that makes you low, Amy Bo. 1001 01:00:37,760 --> 01:00:41,280 Speaker 1: You're sitting quietly on your own, thinking or grief with 1002 01:00:41,400 --> 01:00:48,120 Speaker 1: piteous moan, when loudly resounds the telephone, Amy Book, who's there? 1003 01:00:48,520 --> 01:00:52,160 Speaker 1: In fearful? Are you? Shout? A voice replies, I say, 1004 01:00:52,280 --> 01:00:56,400 Speaker 1: no doubt you've heard the latest news about Amy Book. 1005 01:00:57,680 --> 01:01:03,240 Speaker 1: Ray off you, savagely reply, says young sweet Central. Oh my, 1006 01:01:04,000 --> 01:01:08,120 Speaker 1: your language is enough to try, Amy Bach. You really 1007 01:01:08,200 --> 01:01:12,560 Speaker 1: mustn't talk so hush. You're making all the Central blush 1008 01:01:12,720 --> 01:01:17,720 Speaker 1: with muttered curse away you brush Amy Back. The town 1009 01:01:17,880 --> 01:01:21,640 Speaker 1: clocks chimes when out they ring, calls you to swear 1010 01:01:21,760 --> 01:01:26,880 Speaker 1: like anything, because it seems as if they sing me 1011 01:01:29,520 --> 01:01:33,000 Speaker 1: and talk of singing. Twon't be long before we'll get 1012 01:01:33,360 --> 01:01:38,520 Speaker 1: although tis wrong. The very latest comic song Amy Back 1013 01:01:39,640 --> 01:01:44,120 Speaker 1: and Amy's face and figure fair on picture postcards everywhere, 1014 01:01:44,360 --> 01:01:49,600 Speaker 1: spread abroad. You cannot scare amy Bach. The postman calls, 1015 01:01:49,920 --> 01:01:52,760 Speaker 1: Do you think he's got important letters? He has not, 1016 01:01:53,200 --> 01:01:57,840 Speaker 1: tis but a postcard. Oh great Scott amy Bach. On 1017 01:01:58,080 --> 01:02:01,400 Speaker 1: land and sea, on earth and air. Yes, oh, creation 1018 01:02:01,680 --> 01:02:06,560 Speaker 1: everywhere is saying to that fact, you'd swear Amy Buck. 1019 01:02:07,680 --> 01:02:10,960 Speaker 1: And in the rustle of the trees, and born upon 1020 01:02:11,160 --> 01:02:16,440 Speaker 1: a balming breeze, is but one sound which doesn't please 1021 01:02:17,440 --> 01:02:23,760 Speaker 1: amy Ba. From Cape Maria to the bluff, the only talk, 1022 01:02:23,800 --> 01:02:29,080 Speaker 1: and quite enough is all the same unnerving stuff, Amy Buck. 1023 01:02:30,120 --> 01:02:33,480 Speaker 1: Wherever you bend your weary feet you get this same 1024 01:02:33,600 --> 01:02:37,959 Speaker 1: most doubtful treat Oh, nothing that you know can beat 1025 01:02:38,600 --> 01:02:43,800 Speaker 1: amy Bach. Oh, legislation should be framed without delay, or 1026 01:02:43,840 --> 01:02:49,560 Speaker 1: so disclaimed to quickly suppress this subject named amy Back. 1027 01:02:50,680 --> 01:02:56,280 Speaker 1: If not, tis easier to foresee that unto all eternity, 1028 01:02:56,880 --> 01:03:05,320 Speaker 1: this only topic there will be Amy Buck the end. 1029 01:03:06,000 --> 01:03:10,800 Speaker 1: That is seriously, like Hark the Raven series, this is 1030 01:03:10,840 --> 01:03:14,400 Speaker 1: a man at the end of his rope who could 1031 01:03:14,440 --> 01:03:18,240 Speaker 1: not take one more article. This is how I felt 1032 01:03:18,280 --> 01:03:22,000 Speaker 1: about Johnny Depp and Amber Heard. I was definitely thinking 1033 01:03:22,000 --> 01:03:24,680 Speaker 1: that as I was typing it out. Oh my god, 1034 01:03:25,000 --> 01:03:27,880 Speaker 1: this guy, this is amazing. It is so long. He 1035 01:03:28,040 --> 01:03:31,160 Speaker 1: really could not for it stop. He was like, and more, 1036 01:03:31,280 --> 01:03:33,480 Speaker 1: there's more to say, And if I hear this name 1037 01:03:33,520 --> 01:03:42,800 Speaker 1: one more goddamn time, the postman comes Like this man 1038 01:03:43,000 --> 01:03:47,120 Speaker 1: is going fully nuts. I love. I also love that 1039 01:03:47,160 --> 01:03:51,840 Speaker 1: they printed it in full the amount of space this day, 1040 01:03:51,880 --> 01:03:59,240 Speaker 1: because it's the greatest poem of a Zealand generation. He 1041 01:03:59,400 --> 01:04:02,880 Speaker 1: really is is. I do love the stanza where he says, Oh, 1042 01:04:02,880 --> 01:04:04,800 Speaker 1: we're going to get a comic song, and I'm like, 1043 01:04:04,840 --> 01:04:08,880 Speaker 1: aren't you writing that right now? That? Yeah, He's like, 1044 01:04:08,920 --> 01:04:12,120 Speaker 1: look what you made me do. Here we are singing 1045 01:04:12,200 --> 01:04:16,400 Speaker 1: my comic song. What a beautiful I wish it weren't anonymous, 1046 01:04:16,760 --> 01:04:19,040 Speaker 1: I know, I want. I want to credit. This person 1047 01:04:19,280 --> 01:04:23,160 Speaker 1: deserves to be in the in the poetry books, just 1048 01:04:23,200 --> 01:04:28,000 Speaker 1: like a weird owl. It's it's brilliant. It's so brilliant. 1049 01:04:28,000 --> 01:04:29,560 Speaker 1: I love, and I'm so glad I found it. It 1050 01:04:29,600 --> 01:04:32,560 Speaker 1: was linked in the head Stuff article that we used 1051 01:04:32,560 --> 01:04:34,720 Speaker 1: as a source, and I'm so happy that I went 1052 01:04:34,760 --> 01:04:37,400 Speaker 1: and looked at it because just cracked me up the 1053 01:04:37,440 --> 01:04:39,080 Speaker 1: whole time I was reading it, and I knew we'd 1054 01:04:39,080 --> 01:04:45,560 Speaker 1: have fun performing it. So great. Oh man, well thanks 1055 01:04:45,600 --> 01:04:47,480 Speaker 1: for sitting through it. I know you're sick of hearing 1056 01:04:47,520 --> 01:04:53,000 Speaker 1: that name. Do by now, I know I am probably amazing. Yeah, 1057 01:04:53,040 --> 01:04:54,960 Speaker 1: please let us know what you thought of this story. 1058 01:04:55,120 --> 01:04:57,480 Speaker 1: I hope you enjoyed as much as we did this 1059 01:04:57,560 --> 01:05:02,000 Speaker 1: insane con woman. Yes, thank you again Simon for sending 1060 01:05:02,040 --> 01:05:04,960 Speaker 1: us away uh starts kill. And please send us your 1061 01:05:05,000 --> 01:05:09,320 Speaker 1: suggestions for future episodes. Obviously we're getting so many good 1062 01:05:09,360 --> 01:05:12,240 Speaker 1: ones from you all. Yes that we've been never know 1063 01:05:12,440 --> 01:05:15,040 Speaker 1: about it, so we keep them coming. Yeah, reach out 1064 01:05:15,040 --> 01:05:17,840 Speaker 1: to us. We're dick Romance at gmail dot com right 1065 01:05:18,000 --> 01:05:20,360 Speaker 1: or we're on Twitter and Instagram. I'm at Dianamite Boon 1066 01:05:20,440 --> 01:05:22,480 Speaker 1: and I'm at Oh Great, It's Eli and the show 1067 01:05:22,600 --> 01:05:24,680 Speaker 1: is at ridic Romance. You can't wait to hear from 1068 01:05:24,680 --> 01:05:27,000 Speaker 1: you all again, and we'll bring you another episode soon. 1069 01:05:27,360 --> 01:05:30,919 Speaker 1: Love you by so long. Friends, It's time to go. 1070 01:05:31,480 --> 01:05:35,480 Speaker 1: Thanks so listening to our show. Tell your friends name's 1071 01:05:35,560 --> 01:05:39,000 Speaker 1: uncle Sandance. To listen to a show ridiculous roll nance