MISS SAVIDGE WAS SURE SHE DID NOT NEED A CHAPERONE

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6632, 11 June 1928, Page 6

MISS SAVIDGE WAS SURE SHE DID NOT NEED A CHAPERONE

Told Police Willing To Relate Everything WO ACCOMMODATION FOR A LADY’ Aust. Press Assn.—United Service. LONDON, June 8. Mr W. N. Birkott, KG., in opening the. case for the police, said: ‘ Tho submission will be that the police have been gravely misunderstood. There has been a grave misconception of tho purposes for which the interrogation of Miss Savidgo took place.” The whole interrogation proceeded on tho sole question as to whether the policemen had committed perjury. They were men of good character, with wives and children, and were entitled to consideration.

"Obviously Miss Savidgo and Sir Leo Chiozza Money would be tho principal'witness for the Crown if tho policemen were prosecuted. Therefore tho Public Prosecutor had to know with certainty if his witnesses would stand the test of cross-examination.

Chief Inspector Collins, a whitehaired man of kindly features, stated that ho had been a detective for 26 years. There was no accommodation at the Police Station in Miss Savidge’s distri tesut ttinoaC CCcjprp a.irfl-..0 district suitable for interviewing a lady. When Miss Savidgo arrived at Scotland Yard she was asked if she was willing to make a statement. She replied that she would be pleased to tell anything. She had not protested throughout by word or demeanour. Sho was always self-possessed and cheerful. A chaperone offered to remain in the room, but Miss Savidgo more than once assured the chaperones that sho would be all right. .

Inspector Collins emphatically denied seriatnm Miss Savidge’s allegations. Everything contained in the statement she had signed at Scotland Yard had been truly represented. The statement contained nothing that she did not say. He did not bully her. He treated her throughout with every consideration. She asked for a cigarette when sho saw his cigarette case. Ho said: “I expect, like all other ladies, you have nice clothes?” Miss Savidge replied: “All the clothes I have I buy out of my wages. ’ ’ Inspector Collins denied that he put his arm round Miss Savidge or sat beside her during the interrogation. He offered to telephone her mother, saying where her daughter was, but Miss Savidge assured him that her mother would not worry. The debate in the House of Commons gave him a great shock. Ho had no idea of any allegations of unkinjlness. e Sir Patrick Hastings asserted that the police had been enquiring of Miss Savidge’s friends, trying to discover if she were a bad girl.' Inspector Collins replied that he knew nothing about it. He was not responsible in any case. Ho regarded Miss Savidge as being able to use her own judgment without her mother’s chaperonagc. There was nothing terrifying about Scotland Yard. Ho admitted it would have been b-'+tor if a friend had been present. The hearing was adjourned.