“MR A’S” CHEQUE.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2544, 29 November 1924, Page 7

“MR A’S” CHEQUE.

DIVIDING THE SPOILS.

NEWTON COMPLETES HIS STORY,

[By Electric Cable—Copyright.) [Aust. and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, Nov. 27.

In (he Midland Bank case, Newton (who Impersonated Mrs sßoWinson’s husband iri the Paris episode) continued his evidence. He said that Robinson scoffed at the offer of £20,000, but subsequently accepted an offer of £25,000, Which was .divided between the Robinsons. Hobbs . ana Newton each got £4OOO, and the aide £SOOO. Robirison was then under the impression that that was all the money there was to divide. Witness nnd Hobbs afterwards went to Paris, where £120,000, the balance of the cheque of £150,000 was equally divided between Hobbs, the Aide, and Newton. Witness de’aied seducing Mrs Robinson and robbing her of £IO,OOO and also that he lived by blackmailin g. He admitted that he was sentenced in 1906 to twenty months’ impriso'nment. He was rather sorry for the part he bad played in the business. He went to India to see if he could obtain a second payment on the second (undated) cheque which “Mr A” gave. He saw the aide, who said it would be two or three months before “A” would be approachable, owing to the death of his wife. He denied that he ever blackmailed the aide. The latter appeared certain that the second cheque would be paid, land paid Newton 600,000 francs for his share. He did not think it was up to him to return this money'because tho. cheque had not been met. Francis Waters, solicitor, gave evidence that the aide-de-camp called on him ori December 29, and told him of the Paris incident. Witness advised him to do nothing until a petition for divorce had been served. The aide and “Mr A” called on him on January 14, arid said they had settled the matter by giving two cheques for £150,000. Witness expressed amazement and “A” and the aide-de-camp both gave him' to understand that they had paid this huge amount under pressure in order to avoid a scandal. They also told him the names of tho other parties iri the matter. The first cheque had already been cleared but the sceond was stopped, on his advice. Witness interviewed Hobbs, who professed to represent Appleton am) Co. Hobbs apparently readily acquiesced in the stoppage of the second cheque, and said he would advise his clierit to put It in the fire. Witness told Hobbs it was a regular blackmailing plot. Witness had "Mr A’s” authority to reveal what he had ’told the Court. This concluded the evidence for the bank.