FRENCH INQUIRY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 57, 8 March 1934, Page 7

FRENCH INQUIRY.

STAVISKY FRAUDS. Sensational Evidence Given By Widow. FRIEND OF FOREIGN MINISTER (United l'.A.—Elcctric Telegraph—Copyright) PARIS, March 7. The iron hand of the law is descending; upon accomplices of the deceased swindler Stavisky, including prominent members of Parliament and magistrates. The Government has decided to adjourn Parliament at the end of this week until the beginning of May, and Parliamentary immunity does not apply during a recess. Staviskv's widow —described as dignified, intelligent and behaving like a woman of the world—appeared before the Committee of Inquiry set up by the Chamber of Deputies. She identified writing on counterfoils of cheques as her 1 usband's, but was bullied by several of them. For instance one for £4000 bore j the name "Caniille Ay," followed by another name regarded as illegible. Madame Stavisky agreed that "Ay" represented Caniille Avmard, formerly editor of "La Liberte,'" who is alleged to have received .€OOOO from Stavisky. He was arrested and now is on bail. With the aid of a magnifying glass witness read the first three letters of the following name as "Tar." Some of tho commissioners suggested "Tardieu," but others indignantly repudiated this and declared the name was "iardif." j The discussion has provided a sensation in political circles. M. Avmard has written to the president of the committee denying knowledge of the cheque. M. Tardieu says the cheque may have been paid to M. Aymard when the latter was negotiating the sale of "La Liberte" to M. Tardicu's political group. Madame Stavisky, in spite of a long barrage of questions, merely admitted that before her marriage when she faced charges of swindles she called in her father's old friend, M. Paul-Boneour, to defend licr. The court dismissed the case. Witness also said her husband had told her he had seen M. Chiappe, exPrefect of Police, who was very friendly. Sho denied that her husband left her any of his papers. She did not know his business until they were married. Under further examination Madame Stavisky admitted that she had been visited by M. Paul-Boncour while she was awaiting accouchement in a clinic. He was a friend of her father. (M. PaulBoneour had already mad'- a statement to tho same effect.) Her husband never talked about his political acquaintances. M. Chiappe once spoke to her husband in a fashionable restaurant. Witness said her personal expenses totalled £135 a month. She did not know how much her husband spent. Once she gave him £G'2.'s, which he said he wished to give to M. Aymard, who was waiting in a taxi. A former deputy named Edmond is charged with receiving cheques for 000,000 francs from Stavisky. REPORTED PURCHASE. CHINESE EASTERN RAILWAY. KOBE, March 7. The purchase of the Chinese Eastern Railway by Manchukuo has been provisionally concluded. Tho terms are being kept strictly secret.