STRANGE STORY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 283, 30 November 1933, Page 7

STRANGE STORY.

DEMANDING MONEY, Engineer Accused of Menacing King George. CHARGED AT BOW STREET. (United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (KecMved 2 p.m.) LONDON, November 29. A man appeared before the magistrate at Bow Street Police Station yesterday morning charged with demanding money by menaces from His Majesty the King. The accused is a consulting engineer named Clarence Gay Goi-don Haddon, aged 43. He was arrested on Monday night at an address in Islington by officers of a special branch of Scotland Yard after an all-day search. The actual charge against Haddon was "uttering, knowing the contents thereof, a letter demanding money from the King with menaces and without reasonable or probable cause." Crowds waited outside the court, but were prevented from entering during the proceedings.

Haddon told a detective: "I made a petition and made an appeal for justice. I have not demanded, I have only pleaded. I deny the charge." Accused became extremely excited several times and seemed on the verge of a breakdown. The prosecutor suggested that it might be thought desirable to obtain a medical report on the accused. Haddon was remanded in custody till December 4. It was stated in evidence that when arrested accused said: "This is the only tiling I wanted. I don't see why I should be hounded about for being the illegitimate son of the Duke of Clarence. I don't deny writing the letters which I wanted to read to the Court, but I did not make a demand." Replying to the magistrate Haddon said: "I've only tried to live as an honest man. It has been thrown up at me since I was a kid. I have had to leave jobs through it and had to leave the Imperial Maritime Customs when I got promotion. It was thrown up against me." It was considered advisable at one period to put a special guard outside Buckingham Palace. Everybody who entered the courtyard, which usually is free of entry, was subjected to close scrutiny and questioned. Haddon is Cft in height and of a commanding presence. He was dressed in a smart lounge suit. He carried a typewriter with him to Bow Street. The "Daily Herald" says accused's finger-prints were taken and he was placed in a cell. <