CALLED AN IMPOSTOR.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 245, 15 October 1926, Page 7

CALLED AN IMPOSTOR.

WOULD-BE TASMAN FLYER. DESPERATE JUMP FROM WINDOW. ROBERTSON STRIKES TROUBLE (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) SYDNEY, October 14. When Robert Robertson, who left Xew Zealand to arrange for a flight ne said he proposed to make from Australia to New Zealand, called on Capt. Hughes, president of the New South Wales Aero Club, he was closely questioned. Consequent on certain doubts which had been raised in the Dominion regarding the bona fides of Robertson, Capt. Hughes was probably more curious than he would otherwise have been. As the result of his inquisitiveness Capt. Hughes came to the conclusion that many of tlie statements made by Robertson would not bear investigation. Capt. Hughes called his visitor an impostor in the presence of witnesses, and said that in the interests of aviation he would get into touch with the police.

Captain Hughes says Robertson then leapt out of the window of his office. He struck the top of tiie oriel window on the next floor below, rebounded and crashed to the verandah roof at the first floor level. When Captain Hughes and the visitor were discussing details of the proposed flight, the former says, he found the whole proposal vague. Robertson was then questioned regarding statements which were alleged to have appeared in Xew Zealand newspapers to the effect that the Aero Club of Australia was going to provide him with a machine. Robertson denied having made such statments. Captain Hughes states that after Robertson had been further questioned he admitted that he had never been in tie Flying Corps. Then as Captain Hughes turned to the telephone to ring tip the police he says Robertson leaped through the window. When Captain Robertson arrived on (he Ulimaroii he said he was suffering from a nervous breakdown, and would take two weeks' 'loliday. He has sustained serious injuries..