The New York herald., 1922-01-01
POSED FOR YEAR AS
DRUMBLAR LAIRD,
ARRESTED AS FRAUD
Genial Host Charmed the
Countryside With His
Gay House Parties.
NEVER PAID HIS Bills
Tradesmen Grow Suspicious
and Ask Scotland Yard
to Interfere.
NEVER PAID HIS BILLS

S'eefo! Gable to THE NEW YORK HEnuLp
Cop1Tf0ht' 1872. by THE NEW YoEK Hr-,rp.
New York Herald Bureau)
London. Dec. 81
some Britons and Americans Of go
cial prominence who enjoy good shoot
ing have just been dazed by the ex-
posure OF genial host who for more
than year has posed as Col. George
Hanbury- Williams and who lived on a
beautiful Aberdeenshire estate as the
Laird Of Drumblair. He was arrested
Wednesday as he entered his dining
room by two Aberdeen detectives and
VIII be given a hearing on Tuesday.
He is now described as tho son OF a
laborer. with his own son collecting an
unemployment dole. However. he has
been charming the countryside with
MS say house parties, even inviting
members OF the royal parties at Bal
moral Castle to join him.
His arrest reveals a successful i,nper-
sonatlon OF the Laird Of DrumbIair. the
temporary occupancy OF the Laird's
large estate and the hoodwinking OF
local tradesmen TO give the impersonato-
unstinted credit. 1t was only when the
trades people became suspicious and
asked the police to investigate that Scot
land Yard discovered the imposture.
Many Charges Made.
1t was alleged that the 'Laird'' told
many persons he purposed 10 accent an
appointment as British Consul at Crete
that he asserted he had communicated
with the War Office over the disposal OF
certain supplies; that he charged pay
ing guests $500 monthly in advance
that he said he planned 20 breed polo
ponies and that he described fictitious
estates IN Essex and Ireland. but ell tho
time, the tradesmen say. he never paid
his bills.
When arrested the Laird" declined 20
give any information regarding his iden-
tty. but Gen. John Hanbury- Williams.
with whom he claimed relationship. de-
clared he was the rankest kind OF n
fraud and that as result of an investI-
cation Of the man since last June he had
warned many Of his friends not 20 ac-
cept invitations from the Laird" 20
hunts and that he had warned guests az
Balmoral Castle not to be duped.
Gave Excellent Sport.
A44t lc n man o. fcEa4[e
personality and as a host gave hie
guests excellent sport and flattering
welcomes and instilled a life OF 10Y into
his parties. His wife was known as a
charming hostess. Meanwhile persons
who have been his guests recently and
who move IN high social circles hero ara
trying to shake the dust OF Drumblair
from their feet.
The wifo OF the Laird" has admitted
that while che was married 20 him eight
years ago, sho was not yet sure that
she knew her husbands correct name.
She declared his only vice was whisky:
that he had been drinking recently and
In Perth was fined for drunkenness ana
disorderly conduct She rescued him,
however, and took him back to his
guests. She eaid he had been expecting
arrest for somc weeks
AZ part OF his entertainment. she
added. ne always took his guests nsfinr
OF night and once he was surprised hv
river guards, wheroupon ho shouted 90
his guests 20 scattcr. Then 70 was dis
covered that they we're poaching on
another mans property