"MR. A."

Northern Advocate, 22 November 1924, Page 5

"MR. A."

SORDID SCANDAL.

POTENTATE'S NAME SUPPRESSED.

MIDLAND DANK CASE

(Received 11.40 a.m.)

LONDON, November 21

The Midland Bank case was resumed

today

Plaintiff, cross-examined by Sir John Simon, denied that there was any trap. He said he liad never discussed the Paris incident with his wife and denied that he ever asked Newton for proof of the Paris in-

cideht

I Lord Darling said that . nothing would have induced him to keep the Eastern potentate's name out of the proceedings simply beeause he was a person of high rank, but reasons of State not connected with his rank at all were responsible for this course being taken. It was- most important that a scandal should not be caused where this potentate lived. The name of the aide-de-camp was also omitted because its mention would permit identification of the ruler J Surprise was caused by Lord Hals- ! bury re-examining He callI ed on Hobbs to produce three cheques | with reference to which Hobbs was J subpoenaed. ; Hobbs said he did not have them. * The Judge ordered Hobbs to be j sworn. j In the witness box Hobbs, replying to the Judge, said he was called to produce documents and put them in safe keeping, but he had . not the cheques. All his papers were stolen from the office of his solicitors. Someone had paid £20,000 for them. Since witness had had the documents there had been an attempt to break into his office and he had the documents photographed. He did not remember ever having the cheques and passbook. . The Judge said that Hobbs must bring the documents next day or explain. Mrs Robinson said that she and her husband began to drift apart in 1914. ' Later she separated from her husband, t 7 l who in 1919 introduced her to NewJ ton, who eventually seduced her. He | wanted her to sell the business and j securities and go away with him. He became violent when she refused. She described her meeting with the members of "Mr A's" suite. One invited her lady friend to meet Mr A, [ with whom she became friendly, accompanying them to parties, theatres and dances. Their relationship eventually became guilty. It was arranged that she and her lady friend should accompany Mr A. and his secretary to Paris. Mr A. planned that they should go to India, herself -as his mistress and' her lady friend: as mistress to his secretary. ,

Witness described the scene "in Paris when Newton surprised her and. Mr A. in a bedroom. She denied acknowledging then thaf Newton was her husband. She was unaware that Newton was acquainted with her relations with Mr A.

Describing the meeting in Hobbs' office witness said that Hobbs threw down a parcel of £25,000 in notes. Her husband got in a temper. Hobbs, when her husband left, said there was nothing to worry about, but he wanted his costs. He took £4000, but gave

no receipt her hotel.

She took the balance to

Newton entered her bedroom, saw the parcel of notes on the bed and said: "Do not think you are going to keep the lot. He threw her across the room when she tried to prevent him taking the money. She found afterwards that he had taken £10,000.

Witness added that she went to Paris to meet Mr A. at Monte Carlo. A foreigner told her that Scotland Yard requested her to leave immediately. She and her friend went to Monte Carlo. She did not see Mr A. there and never saw him again. Witness denied that her husband was living on her earnings or that she led an immoral life.

The hearing was adjourned.—Reuter,