THE LAW’S DELAY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 124, 7 March 1930, Page 5

THE LAW’S DELAY.

YEAR IN FRENCH PRISON. WOMAN ON HUNGER-STRIKE. (United Press Association— Copyright.) PARIS, Alarch 6. It has been revealed that Madame Hanau, who figured in extraordinary financial operations in 1928, lias been hunger-striking. She declares that she will starve herself to death unless hex case is investigated.- Now she lias.refused to take even water. The case is an instance of liovv long a person can be kept in prison in France, without trial. Aladame Hanau was arrested oil December 5, 1928, and the last mention of the case cabled to New Zealand was in respect to a magisterial - inquii y on January 6, 1929. ... , , -, , Known as a. financial wizard who had operated one of the most gigantic get-rich-quick schemes ever devised, Aladame Alarthe Hanau was arrested 1 early in December of 1928 with Ler divorced husband, Lazare Bloclx. The news spread very rapidly, and pahicstricken investors rushed to the sumptuous marble-tronted offices from which Madame, iftth Bloch and a staff , of 200 clerks, had directed enormous financial operations. Among the victims were deputies, priests, nuns and widows oi officers. , When the scandal was broached in the French Chamber, the Alinister .of Finance gave an assurance that justice would be done. Madame, besides running the “Gazette de Franc,” formed five share-investing companies, and had 4000 agencies in France and abroad. Seven members of the Government, including MAI. Poincare, Briand, Loucheur and Leygues, were involved through articles that they were alleged to have contributed to the “Gazette de Franc” or the “Gazette des Nations,” though few believed that they were being exploited In all 18 arrests were made in connection with the case, and it .was said that several suicides were attributed to losses incurred through the concern.