HELPING A RUSSIAN PRINCESS

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 60, 9 March 1912, Page 17

HELPING A RUSSIAN PRINCESS

MR. STEAD AS PLAINTIFF. Mr. W. T. Stead, fhe editor of the "Review of Reviews," was plaintiff on Janoary 20th in an action concerning a hill of exchange for £llOO, wtoich was heard by Mr. Justice Bucknlll in the King's Bench Division, London. The defendant was Mr. Alfred Parks, a Brighton butcher, who was said to have accepted the bill on the security of which. Mr. Stead handed over to Princess Wiasemsky a cheque for £llOO. The defence was that the bill was an accommodation bill. Mr. Marshall Hall. K.C., on behair of Mr. Stead, stated that his client had had some considerable relations with the Russian Court through the Influence of the Dowager-Empress. In 1910 the lady called upon Mr. Stead, and, as a result of their Interview, plaintiff telephoned to Mr. Parks, at Brighton. He told Mr. I'arks that the Princess said her son ws« purchasing a house at Dulwich and that a deposit had been paid. Further, Mr. Stead expressed the fear that unless the "Princess was placed in possession of funds to complete *he purchase there would he a danger that she would be unn-ble to repay sir. Parks' other advances. He therefore suggested that if Mr. Parks cared to accept a bill for £llOO, payable at 14 days, he would get it discounted. Mr. Parks accepted the bill, be as it was payable at a private address his banker would not discount it. Mr. Stead, therefore, himself gave n cheque to the Princess. When the bill became dne and was presented, it was, however, dishonoured. Mr. Stead, in evidence, said that his ontf object in this matter was to help the Princess. "We all know," said Sir Frederick Low, for defendant, "that in these courts there have been numerous proceedings against this lady by a great number of creditors?— Tes. To what extent is this lady indebted to yon?—l have judgment against her for £7OOO, I think. The defendant, who gave his name as Arthur Parks, stated that prior to May, 1010, he_had lent the Princess about £2OOO m goods and money. He was never asked to lend money to complete the purchase of the house in Dulwich. The first he 'heard was when the Princess rang him on the telephone in May ,1910. He agreed to sign the bill if that would help iMr. Stead to arrange the matter, but said he mnst not be expected or called upon to meet the bill. This he repeated to Mr. Stead 1 Mr. Parks added that since this transaction he had lent the Princess about £IOOO. The loans made by himself and his father *o this lady amounted to about £IO,OOO. Defendant said he understood from Mr. Stead that he had been asked by the Dowager Empress of to do what he could for this lady. This concluded tbe evMesce, and tbe hearing was adjourned.