RULER TRAPPED

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 27 November 1924, Page 5

RULER TRAPPED

THE MYSTERIOUS “MR. A.” SENSATIONAL EVIDENCE. ' SCHEMES OF A WOMAN. .. ' : .v' 1 .-. ; ; . ' l [Piquant details come to hand daily in connection with what is known as the bank case, in which the mysterious “Mister A” (an Eastern ruler), an indiscreet wife, and an allegedly wrathful husband are the chief actors. In the action : it is alleged that the woman conspired with others to obtain money , from the Eastern potentate.] BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION —COVfaiOHT. (Received Nov. 27, 10.50 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 26. In the Bank case a sensation was caused by Sir John Simon announcing that Newton had been offered £3OOO to come to the court to give evidence. Newton gave evidence that in November, 1919, in response to a telephone message, he visited Mrs Robinson’s flat. She told him she met ‘ 1 Mister A” and his aide-de-camp. She added that “Mister A’’ was very wealthy. Mrs Robinson suggested that, in order to; get. money from him, she should be discovered in bed .with “Mister A,” and Newton should take the part of her husband, because. Robinson did not . look like the husband of a society lady, and anyhow in all business they had done he always preferred a- back seat. Newton agreed to the proposal. There were to be five people in the business — the Robinsons, Mrs Bevan, the aide-de-camp and Newton. The idea at first was > that Mrs Robinson would return to Robinson’s house in Chapel street with ‘ ‘ Mister A, ” and that Newton should watch the house and discover them together. The aide-de-camp said “Mister A” had £600,000 in the bank in India and a considerable sum in London. The matter was discussed from all angles. He was given a latch key for the. Chapel street house, and saw plaintiff in Chapel street twenty or thirty times. It was agreed that a solicitor was necessary and Hobbs was mentioned. Hobbs first thought it a sort of fairy story. LONDON, Nov.' 25.

In the: bank case Sijr John Simon, in opening th© case for the defence, said Mr A. had an overwhelming reason for fearing a menacing, exposure. High as bis position was, he was reduced to a state of oppression and fear that he signed two blank cheques, even before he was ever consulted. Sir John Simon declared that the Midland Bank would show that every one of the six conspirators (received the most substantial sums. It was a terrible aiid humiliating reflection that a man ,in Mr A’s service was the traitor Judas, whereas the dark-skinned native secretary was faithful. Sir John Simon concluded by calling Newton to testify. !