PEERESS’S ARREST

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 313, 2 December 1933, Page 4

PEERESS’S ARREST

DRAMATIC SCENE. ALLEGED FALSE PRETENCES. “I am a peeress of England. My son is Commander Kenworthy. You will hear something about this. Wht> is charging us? Tho police?” These remarks are alleged to have been made by Lady Strabolgi (70), when the police placed her and a man under arrest. A sequel took place in West London Police Court when Lady Strabolgi, whose address was given as Gloucester Terrace, Kensington, and Robert Muller (62), giving an address; in Belgrave Square, Victoria, were charged with attempting, on October 14, at an address in Cornwall Gardens, West Kensington, to obtain the sum of £6OOO by false pretences from the Hon. Francis de Moleyns. Both defendants were described as “independent.” Hon. Francis de Moleyns is the younger son of Lord Ventry, the Irish peer, and is an officer in the Royal Air Force Reserve. Mfi Eric Politzer appeared for the defence. HID BEHIND CURTAINS. Lady Strabolgi, dressed in. a large black' hat, with black feathers, and a heavy black coat, made a striking figure. Detective-Sergeant James Coleman, giving evidence, said: “On Saturday. October 14, with Sergeant Powell, I went to an address in Cornwall Gardens and entered a room there on the first floor. Sergeant Powell and I then went behind some window curtains. At 5.58 the two prisoners entered the room. Present in the room also were Mr de Moleyns, Mr Haig and Mr Lenox Conyngham. “I heard Muller say, “We are a little early.’ There was a general conversation! and explanations given of a scheme.

“I heard Muller say .among other things, ‘Now, gentlemen, look at this map again. You see tnis spot along this river. My property runs along the river for about 1 5 miles, containing hundreds of thousands of pine trees, also a considerable number of mahogany trees.’ “There were various other statements made which will be later given in evidence. “I heard Mr de Moleyns say, ‘Do you take a cheque now ?’ Muller said, ‘We must have the money in hand. Yes, I will take a cheque.’ “FIFTY-FIFTY IN OUR DEALS.” “Lady Strabogli said, ‘Sure, nothing like cash down. It saves a lot of trouble.’ ” Lady Strabolgi smiled at this remark. Sergeant Coleman continued: “Mr de Moleyns said, ‘You write a cheque.’ Muller said, ‘Yes.’

“Lady Strabolgi remarked, ‘Yes, ho will write a cheque, but my name must be added too. You see we are fifty-fifty in our deals.’ “After further conversation Lady Strabolgi said, ‘Let me see the cheque Give it to me. lam fifty-fifty in this. Yes, that is right.’ “Sergeant Powell arid I then stepped

from bvehind the curtains. I said, ‘We are police officers. We have listened to the conversation* and I intend to take you in custody.’ “I cautioned them, and told Sergeant Powell to take a cheque from Lady Strabolgi as she was about to place it in her handbag. “I said to the accused, ‘I am going to arrest you both for attempting to obtain £6OOO by false pretences.’ “Muller said, ‘False pretences. Nonsense. I was invited here. I am going to Honduras with these people to negotiate a deal. We are trapped !’ “Mr de Moleyris said, ‘I am charging you.’ ”

They were charged at the police station and cautioned, and in replv to the charge Muller said: “We deny the charge absolutely. No false pretences were put forward.” * Lady Strabolgi and Midler were remanded for one week. Hail for each of them was fixed at One surety of £SOO or two sureties of £‘2so.