“MERELY A PRANK”

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 10511, 15 February 1928, Page 5

“MERELY A PRANK”

HOLD-UP FOP ADVERTISING PURPOSES. WITNESS'S STORY IN ALLEGED LIBEL' ACTION. EXPLORER’S CLAIM AGAINST LONDON JOURNAL. (United Press Assn— Copyright.) A. and N.Z.C.A. (Received Feb. 14, 9.50 p.m.) . LONDON, Fel). 13. Opening the defence in tlie Mitchell Heagcs libel action, Mr Jowitt said: “1 suggest that Hedges is an impostor, making a claim lie cannot substantiate. No doubt he has been to Panama, and has talked with Indians and had certain interesting experiences, but the man who has written up those experiences as Hedges is an imposter.” ' William Shaw, a chartered accountant of Dublin, one of the attackers, detailed an abortive hold-up on January 6 and a successful attempt on January 14, when Kenneth Taylor was tied up, but neither Hedges nor Edged was knocked down or hurt in any way. Edged deliberately made the grass untidy in order to suggest a scuffle had taken place. The whole thing was a prank to advertise Monomarks, the idea being that Hedges’ bag should be discovered in a sensational manner bv means oT a monomark. Cross-examined, Shaw admitted that after Hedges had issued a writ against the Daily Express he (Shaw) signed a statement to Hedges’ solicitor that Hedges and Edged were in no way privy to the hoax. Shaw added he was now thoroughly ashamed of having signed the statement.