Fahmy Bey

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIII, Issue 229, 12 September 1923, Page 5

Fahmy Bey

Savoy Hotel Murder PSEUDO PRINCESS ON TRIAL. A SENSATIONAL CASE. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 12, 10.5 a.m.) London, Sept. 11. Great crowds attended at the Old Bailey to witness the trial of the socalled princess who shot Fahmy Bay on July JUth, including many society women. No expense is being spared on the defence. Sir Edward Marshall-Hall, K.C., and Sir 11. Curtis-Bennett rep>seated the accused, Madame J ihmy who apjM'arcd a pale and fragile hgu. • in deep black. She pleaded not guilty. As she knew no English two trench interpreters were present. Two women were included in the jury. After Mr. Percival Clarke, for th* Crown, had detailed the circumstances oi the marriage and Fahmy . death, Enani, secretary to Fahmy Boy. gave evidence that on the night of the tragedy Fahmy, his wife, and witness occupied a box at a theatre. Fahmy was nice to his wife. Witness (refused to admit that Fahmy was a bully and in the habit-of beating women. Witness could not remember whether Fahmy smacked his wife’s face or kicked her. Counsel then detailed an incident in which Fahmy was alleged to have dislocated his wife’s jaw. Enani said he remembered the incident.

He denied a suggestion by Sir E. Marshall Hall that there had been a conspiracy between himself and Fahmy to get the prisoner to Cairo against her will in order to make her Fahmy’s mistress. Enani said this was Fahmy’s first intention, but later he decided to make prisoner his wife. When Madame married she became a Moslem, and Fahmy could divorce her at . a moment’s notice. Fahmy was entitled to have four wives. Witness had also been told that Aladame, by re-marry-ing, had forfeited a large allowance from her former husband. Enani admitted that he received 5 per cent, upon an order for furnishing Fahmy’s beautiful palace in Cairo. PASSIONATE LEITERS. Sir E. Marshall-Hall read Fahmy’s love letters, couched in passionate Oriental imagery. A typical paragraph read: “Torture of my me, your image appears to me surrounded by a halo, your head encircled by the crown 1 reserve for you here.” Sir E. Alaashall-Hall put to Enani a series of dramatically worded telegrams .suggesting that they had been sent to prisoner to induce her to come to in the belief that Fahmy was desperately ill. Witness denied that a cartoon in an Egyptian paper represented Fahmy, himself and a third man and tfiat they were given to evil practices.

The hearing was adjourned.—(A. and N.Z.)

Ali Kamel Fahmy was found fatally shot in his rooms at the Savoy Hotel, London, on July 10th. He was 23 years of age and his wife (a French woman) J2. She was of striking beauty. They had been married less than a year. Ihe princess dined with her husband the previous evening at the Savoy and they were apparbntiy un the best of terms.

Ihe tragedy occurred after midnight. A member ol the night staff, heanug shots, hurried to the prince’s ruoms and found the prince outside in tne corridor in his night clothes. He died before he reached hospital. There was a Browning pistol on the ffooi and cullet marks on the wall ql the curridui’, and also bloodstains on die princess’s evening gown in the bedroom. When charged the princess sat in tuu duck in a state of collapse, ueepmg Bitterly. A police witness said the princess’s doctor told him the accused was about to go to a nursing home for au operation. Fahmy Bey met his wife at the Hdtel Majestic, Paris. They were mutually attracted and were constantly together. The Frenchwoman left Paris suddenly aud the prince abandoned hope of seeing her again. A few months later, while walking on the front at Deauville, he saw Her, confessed his love and eventually won her consent to the engagement. Returning to Egypt he secured the consent oi hi; family to the maniiage. The Frenchwoman journeyed to Egypt and was presented to his relativ es and agreed to becoihe a Mohammedan. The marriage in Cairo in December was most brilliant. Hunedreds of guests wei-e lavishly entertained. The hist months of the honeymoon were spent in the prime’s palace on the banks of the Nile. The prince and his wife were prominent at Luxor during the lutankhamen season and entertained Dord Carnarvon. The prince's income is estimated at £106,000. He was a generous supporter of charitable and educacational institutions in Egypt. Fahmy Bey was a notorious spendthrift. His father left his entire fortune to him. He soon dissipated it. He had been for months borrowing on the security of his Egyptian estates. He possessed the most luxurious house in Uaiiio and was fond of jewellery, which he displayed ostentatiously. He was vain and ignorant and became a prey to sycophants. Though usually styled prince he did not possess the title.