Man Photographed With Peer Identified

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30511, 5 August 1964, Page 17

Man Photographed With Peer Identified

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter — Copyright) LONDON, August 4. The “Daily Express” today published across five columns of its front page a picture showing Lord Boothby and a London club owner.

The newspaper said Lord Boothby last night confirmed this was the picture he had referred to in his letter to “The Times” denouncing “sinister rumours” about him. the picture shows Lord Boothby seated on a sofa with a man the “Daily Express” says is Ronald Kray, a 30-year-old owner of a club in Knightsbridge.

The “Daily Express” said the picture had been taken in Lord Boothby’s Belgravia home and office.

It said the 64-year-old peer last night was shown a copy of the picture. “Nothing Compromising”

The “Daily Express” quoted Lord s Boothby as saying: “There is absolutely nothing compromising about this photograph. “The ‘Daily Express’ has my full permission to print it.”

The newspaper said Mr Kray and his twin brother, Reginald, had been interviewed at a flat in Upper Clapton. A lawyer had sat between the two brothers.

Mr Ronald Kray was quoted as saying he had made two business calls on Lord Boothby. “He is a man for whom 1 have a great deal of respect. It is because of this that I wanted to have the picture taken with him,” he said.

The “Daily Express” said Mr Ronald Kray continued: “I went to see him on two occasions. I was accompanied by friends. “I found him to be a frank and outspoken man. He was everything I expected of an English gentleman. “I cannot say what the business deal was about—that is a private matter.”

The newspaper quoted Mr Kray as saying Lord Boothby had later written to say he was turning down the business proposition. Mr Kray added: "These were the only occasions I have seen him," the “Daily Express” reported. The “Daily Express” said Lord Boothby in an inter-

view confirmed Mr Kray's account of the meeting. It quoted him as saying: “I had met Mr Kray previously for about 10 minutes. This was our second meeting. “We were meeting to discuss the possibility of my heading one of his companies which had something to do

with African development." Reuter says Lord Boothby issued the following staterfient late last night: “Despite cautions, warnings, and everything else of my legal advisers, my own experience—which I consider to be greater than theirs—is that the best way to treat the press is with perfect frankness and tell the truth. This is what I have done.

“As a life-long journalist 1 have always found it paid to be frank and truthful with the press.

“1 have told them throughout the whole of this business the precise truth, and I don’t regret it. “On legal matters I am prepared to be guided by legal advisers, but I have been dealing with the press for over 40 years and they have never yet let me down. “I therefore think it right to be perfectly open and straight and honest and candid with them. I think that pays off.”