“BARON” ON TRIAL

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 118, 12 February 1941, Page 8

“BARON” ON TRIAL

Theft And Receiving Charges Denied W ELLINGTON EPISODE

Flying Corps For Haile

Selassie

(B, I’eiegi-uiil,--Press Association.)

\CCKL.\XD, February 11

Hie hearing' of two theft charges and one of receiving against Corneille Hubert De Mey, aged 47. farmer, was continued before Mr. lust ice hair in the Supreme Court today. In the course of his evidence accused said his real name, was Baron Corneille Hubert De ■ ’ \ ikemade.

Accused was charged with stealing £2O and £2.80 and with receiving £lO. Ihe property of James McCann, amt pleaded nut guilty. In evidence lie said lie was nt present serving three months in jail in connexion with oilier charges. He had Hen desirous of getting a small farm and had called upon McCann to see if lie could lease his property. He denied the alleged thefts from McCann.

“Blowing Up" Wellington,

To the Crown Prosecutor, Mr. V. R. Meredith, accused admitted that in 1937 he was involved in a civil litigation at Auckland and £9OO was awarded against him. In 1935 lie was arrested in Wellington on the allegation that he was going to “blow up” the city. Ho was placed In a mental hospital for a month, and subsequently the charge against him was thrown, out by the magistrate. Accused admitted that he had been in Honolulu in 1935 and was known as “Baron.” Mr. Meredith: And you were then fixing up a flying corps for Haile Selassie? Accused replied that there had been a lot in the Press that was not quite correct. He admitted that Press photographs produced and entitled “Baron Corneille Hubert De Mey d’Alkemade” were pictures of himself. He had told the police chief in Honolulu that he had been in trouble in New Zealand and’was going out to do his bit for Haile Selassie. He . had backing in America and the uniform which he wore in tlie photographs would have been recognized if he had been able to get to Africa. Dined with Von Luckner.

Mr. J. F. AV. Dickson, for accused (re-examining): You are in fact a baron ? Accused replied that the title was officially granted by the Dutch to his grandfather for services in the Great War. He had dropped the title for the present as it had been suggested that lie was one of the heads of the “Fifth Column” in New Zealand. He admitted that he had dined with Count Von Luckner, but he was definitely not a Fifth Columnist. The hearing was adjourned.