FALSE INFORMATION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 9166, Issue 9165, 15 March 1910, Page 2

FALSE INFORMATION.

I SIX WEEKS' IMPRISONMENT. The cables on Monday stated that a man named Horner, an cx-M.P., had been sentenced to six weeks imprisonment for sending false telegrams to the London Daily Mail. Horner, an elderly man, was charged on three counts of forging telegrams in the name of Walter Kirby, purporting to describe certain unrehearsed incidents that occurred during a visit by Mr Lloyd George, Chancellor of the Exchequer, to Falmouth, while the elections were in progress in January. At the preliminary hearing of the charges at the Mansion House Police Court on January 20th, prosecuting counsel (Mr Muir) said Mr Walter Kirby was a person well known to the editorial stall ot the Daily Mail as a contributor of many vears* standing; whereas defendant was onlv known to them as a person who brought against that paper two libel actions which were dismissed with costs. They would bo unlikely to accept information coming to them on the authority

of Mr Horner's name, while on the other hand the authority of Mr Kirby would be perfectly acceptable. Defendant knew this well, as would be proved by statements which he made to the proprietor of a hotel at Penzance at the time of sending the telegrams. THE TELEGRAMS. Mr Muir narrated how on Saturday night, January Bth, Mr Lloyd Georgo travelled to Falmouth to address a meetin"- there in support of the Liberal candidate. On the Sunday. Mr Macpherson, one of the editors of the Daily Mjn'' received this telegram dispatched at 11.10 that morning from Penzance: Travelled accidentally same train

Lloyd George to Falmouth, and wiring vou message from here as J? almouth Post. Office closed. Wire whether using. —Kirby, Riviera Palace Hotel, Penzance. Mr Macpherson awaited the arrival of the message. It proved to be an account of Mr .Lloyd

George arriving' at Falmouth; of a torchlight procession being abandoned to save hnn from the fury of the electors; of his being greeted at Pcnrhyn with cries ot "Coward!" and "Traitor!" of a policeman taking him by oach arm on his arrival at Falmouth; and of his being escorted by a- posse of police. It purported to come from Walter Kirby, Riviera Palace Hotel, Penzance. Mr Macpherson telegraphed to Mr Kirby at that address: "Will use story. Presume, it is exclusive and accurate. —Daily Mail. The reply came: • Yes, absolutely accurate and exclusive.—Kirby. The substance of the telegram was accordingly published by tho Daily Mail. PURE INVENTION. The account, it will be remembered, was flatly contradicted by Mr Lloyd George in a public speech on the day of its publication. In point of fact (said counsel) Mr Waltcr Kirby was in London all the time. Nor had he authorised anyone to send the telegrams. Mr Horner was at Penzance, at tho Riviera Palace Hotel, and in conversation with tho proprietor told him he had sent these telegrams. Asked why lie sent them in the namo of Mr Kirby, he said it was because there was some feeling between himself and the Daily Mail, and if sent in his own name they would probably not bo used. The motive for using the false name was, therefore, apparent. On Monday evening, in consequence of a the Daily Mail telegraphed to Mr Kirby at Penzance: Lloyd George telegraphs your account untrue. He was enthusiastically received by huge crowds. Please reply. Mr Horner having then left Penzance, the telegram was sent after Kim to London. He then (Tuesday) wired to the proprietor of the hotel: Kindly re-wire to them message sent separately, and wire mo contents if a-ny further communication. Many thanks. This (said Mr Muir) was tho forged telegram which defendant attempted to get tho proprietor to send: Lloyd George's platform wriggling last night futile, and simply terminological inexactitudes. Fact 6 are as

wired. Polico information of procession given by police themselves, Other details seen and heard by myself and hundreds others. Can vouch hotel inarmed by foreigners and by foreign staff. —Kirby. SERVING THE SUMMONS. Inquiries induced suspicion that Mr Ilorner was the sender of the telegrams, and a representative of the Daily Mail went to defendant's house in Curzon street to see him. He saw Mrs Hornor, and was told that Mr Horner was too ill to sec him. The originals of the telegrams having been identified as being in the handwriting of defendant, these proceedings were commenced. In view of possibilities (said counsel) it was desirable to serve the summons personally. The polico officer had no sooner said who he was, and described the charge, than Mrs Horner appeared upon the scene, aiid 6natched the summons from defendant's hand. Thereupon defendant left the lady to talk to the officer while he ran upstairs without offering any explanation whatever. Mr Waiter Kirby, of Streatham, proprietor and eidtor of the Yachting World, and a contributor to the Daily Mail for ten years, eaid he was not in Penzance between January Bth and 11th. He was in London. Ho did not authorise, and had npthing to do with, the j sending of the telegrams in question.