A Woman Bridegroom (Press, 27 April 1909)

On 26 April 1909, a sensational story emerged from Dunedin regarding Amy Bock, a woman notorious for her cunning scams. Known by various aliases including Channel, Shannon, and Kevin, she was described as a small, agile woman in her forties, originally from Victoria, who had been active in New Zealand since 1884. Bock was well-known to law enforcement due to her history of elaborate swindles and her ability to escape detection. Her latest scheme began in January 1909 when she took a job as a domestic servant with the Roy family in Dunedin. While the family was away on holiday, Bock seized the opportunity to forge a receipt for the sale of their furniture, tricking a businessman from the Waikouaiti Valley into believing it was legitimate. She managed to obtain £30 in exchange for the receipt before disappearing, prompting the police to issue a warrant for her arrest. Bock resurfaced later that month in a boarding house in the Nuggets, adopting the identity of "Percy Caroll Redwood", claiming to be the wealthy nephew of an archbishop. With his short hair and fashionable attire, "Mr Redwood" quickly became popular among the other residents, impressing them with his apparent wealth and charm. He befriended the Ottaway family, the boarding house owners, and grew particularly close to their daughter. While keeping up his deception, "Mr Redwood" convinced a Dunedin woman to lend him £40 and also claimed his "wealthy mother" would provide financial support for his intended marriage to Miss Ottaway. Bock even forged letters purportedly from his "mother" detailing financial arrangements for their life together. The couple's wedding was scheduled for 21 April 1909, but suspicions began to arise about "Mr Redwood" shortly before the ceremony. A resident in the area raised concerns that led to investigations. On the day of the wedding, just as the couple was set to embark on their honeymoon to Melbourne, detectives finally located Bock and apprehended her at the boarding house. Detectives found Bock in the midst of her deception, casually smoking a pipe when they arrived. On being confronted, she simply replied, "All right." Following her arrest, it was revealed that she faced charges for her fraudulent activities, specifically the earlier incident involving the £30 she swindled from the businessman. Bock is reported to have admitted to her crimes and is eager to resolve the situation quickly. The Ottaway family, particularly the bride-to-be, expressed shock and distress over the unfolding events. Miss Ottaway has been reported to be unwell, likely due to the emotional turmoil caused by her engagement to someone she believed to be a respectable suitor. The case highlights the strange and remarkable exploits of a woman whose bold escapades captivated local attention and ended in her arrest.

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