Move to release Milhench

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33515, 22 April 1974, Page 13

Move to release Milhench

f.V.Z.P. A.-Keuter—Copyright? WOLVERHAMPTON. April 21. Legal moves have been made to release from police custody Mr Ronald Milhench, the man at the centre of a controversy over the alleged forgery of the signature of the Prime Minister (Mr Wilson).

I A writ of habeas corpus [was sought yesterday by a [solicitor acting for Mr Mil-, bench, a wealthy insurance 'broker who has been at a •police station in Wolverhampton since early on’ 'Thursday morning. i Mr Milhench. who is 36. I was detained for questioning! ■in connection with thej alleged forgery of Mr Wil-| [son’s signature on a document concerning a land; [transaction at Ince-ln-Make-'field, near Wolverhampton. , However, the judge to: iwhom the habeas corpus (writ had been presented [adjourned hearing the appli-i 'cation to the High Court in" '.London until Monday. [ The solicitor, Mr John Lishman, said: “I expect Mr [Milhench will be charged on' [Monday morning. If he is. there will not be any necessity to continue the application and we will apply fur [bail in the ordinary way.” j Meanwhile, detectives in • London awaited the arrival: [from West Germany of Mrs : Elfriede Milhench, first wife • of the detained businessman. [ She is believed to be the' [only person able to verify [the authenticity of docu- : intents held by the police,:

who have widened the forg ery inquiries to include investigation into the death of Mr Milhench s second wife. Kathleen.

She drowned last February when the car her was driving plunged into a lake, and a Coroner’s Cour* passed a majority verd > r that she died accidental's Mr Milhench told the police he managed to swim to sateIhe letter purporting m earn Mr Wilson's signature related to a land deal with which some of Mr Wilson associates were involved. There was never any suggestion that Mr Wils on »;i« involved in the deal or that the deal iiselt was illegal. But as it involv ed some f Mr Wilson's associates, the transaction raised a M<>rm :i Parliament because of the Labour Government's clei tion campaign against iand