BUSINESS IS USUAL WITH KING EDWARD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 169, 18 July 1936, Page 9

BUSINESS IS USUAL WITH KING EDWARD.

CORONATION PLANS. Police Warned of Possible Attack. CAREER OF ACCUSED. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 11 a.m.) LONDON', July 17. King Edward carried out his usual business engagements to-day, receiving the Duke of Norfolk, Hereditai'y Earl Marshal, about the Coronation arrangements, also the Duke of York. It is revealed that the police attempted on Wednesday to get in touch with George Andrew McMahon, who was arrested for the alleged attempt on the. King. An oflicer called at his home at 9 a.m., but he had already left.

The reason for the police visit is not disclosed, but it is believed to be connected with a communication from McMahon to the Home Office. Special officers searched for McMahon among the crowd at the Wellington Arch immediately before the incident.

They had received letters about him and had been told by Mrs. van der Elst, well known crusader against capital punishment, that he had a revolver. She said: "I first made contact with McMahon when I was fighting the byelection at Putney. I accepted his offer of motor cars to use in the election. I met him only casually, but once during the election he became a little obstreperous and was ejected from the committee room."

It is also stated tTiat McMahorij is an Irishman, and his real name is Jerome Bannigan. He was born at Cookston, County Tyrone, and his parents now are living in the Govan district, Glasgow. Both are aged nearly SO: Accused's father to-day said: "I have not seen Jerome for 10 years." Another son is a Roman Catholic priest in Dublin. Aged Parent's Regret. The police visited Bannigan's parents. His father is almost blind and his mother deaf. The news was kept from her. The father explained that his son suffered a foot affliction from birth and was banned from usual participation in games and normal school activities. "It is a shame that this disgrace should come in the evening of my wife's life," he said. A school friend of the accused said that as a boy Bannigan took a great interest in the Irish question. "I consider he was too delicately balanced for the strain of London life," he said. The "News Chronicle" says it understands McMalion had a grievance against the police and had written many letters of complaint to Scotland Yard. He had been living with his wife in a oneroomed flat in a basement in AVestbqurne Terrace for the past three years. Neighbours describe McMalion as a man of pleasant manner devoted to his wife.

The "Daily Mail" says McMalion edited variotis pamphlets and periodicals. A neighbour said: "Many of us knew McMahon when be went about in a frock-coat. He gave the impression that he was a literary man of some importance. He kept a herbalist's shop at Notting Hill for a time. I understand he was a student at Dublin University and obtained a B.A. degree there. He was a champion of lost causes."

N.Z. REACTION. EXTREME THANKFULNESS. (By Telegraph.—Special Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Friday. His Excellency, the Governor-General, Viscount G;ilway, lias sent tlie following cablegram •to His Majesty, tlie King: —"Your Majesty's Government and people of New Zealand, with whom my wife and I desire to associate ourselves, wish to express to Your Majesty our profound sympathy in respect to yesterday's occurrence, and our sense of extreme "thankfulness that the incident led to no serious results."

The concern of New Zealand at the apparent attempt on the King life was expressed by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, in a statement to-day.

"Every subject of His Majesty will be distressed to learn of the most unpleasant incident reported to-day," Mr. Savage said. "On behalf of His Majesty's subjects in New Zealand, I wish to express our heartfelt relief and thankfulnes's that the incident had no more serious outcome. The King's kindliness and interest in the well-being of his subjects have won for him an enduring place in their hearts. In these days when the ideals of democracy are being so gravely threatened we look with renewed thankfulness and pride to the British monarchy, which has set a standard of service that has won the devotion and admiration of all British peoples." AUCKLAND MESSAGE. REPLY BY PRIME MINISTER. The following reply has been received by the Mayor of Auckland, Mr. Ernest Davis, from the Prime Minister, the lit. Hon. M. J. Savage:—"Thank you for your telegram. The sentiments conveved bv vou are, I feel sure, shared by all New Zealanders. A suitable message on behalf of the Government and people of the Dominion was conveyed to His Majesty through the usual channels.