WATERHOUSE CASE

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 152, 24 March 1925, Page 7

WATERHOUSE CASE

“DIFFICULT AND PECULIAR STORY” - ,CONCLUSION OF EVIDENCE , London, March 22. At the resumed hearing of the Water- , house case, Mr. Justice Shearman ruled that the case must go on against all the defendants. Sir David Wilson-Barker’s counsel intimated that he did not propose to address the jury, as there were no facts to go to them. _ » Mr. Justice Shearman: There is no allegation against him except that he is responsible if his wife is liable. Lady Wilson-Barker’s counsel said that he did not propose to call evidence. Mr. Ravner Goddard, K.C., addressing the jurv on behalf of defendant Sheldon, said that the onlv rag of evidence against Sheldon was that at _ a ' time when there was no complaint against him he was alleged to have confessed to having participated in an infamous blackmail conspiracy; vet this white-haired old gentleman of 74 was not charged with receiving a penny as the result of the conspiracy. Sheldon gave evidence that he had never helped Lady Wilson-Barker to compose any letters nor confessed to Sir Herbert Waterhouse that he was implicated in their composition. Witness said that he told Sir Herbert Waterhouse, when he was taxed with the statement that money from Frank Waterhouse had been traced to witness’s account, that it was absolutely impossible. He had never had a solitary pound from Frank, alive or dead. Cross-examined, witness said that he thought Lady Wilson-Barker told him ehe had had the money. The evidence concluded. Mr. Haydon, n<mressins the jury on betalf of plaintiff, said that it was a difficult and peculiar story of a lady of supposed distinction, yet an unscrupulous, cruel, cold, calculating adventuress. If the jurv found against her, that description must rightly apply, for the only person who could explain the questions was Lady Wilson-Barker herself, but she had not dared to wo into the wit-ness-box —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.