COMMERCIAL BANK CASE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 4 March 1914, Page 5

COMMERCIAL BANK CASE

EVIDENCE OF A FEMALE DEFENDANT. (Press Association. —Copyright.] LONDON, March 3. In the King's Bench Division, the action of the Commercial Bank of Australia against Cora Minnett, alias Bella Hawker, and Herbert Cowell, alias Herbert Hawker, to recover £2600 which Robson, a (former employee of the bank, wrongfully delivered to defendants, was continued. Robson gave evidence that he lent Minnett £2300 for an Australasian development company, and also £SOO to write a play . The defendant Minnett gave evidence that he was born in New South Wales, and her name was Jones. She went on the stage as Cora Minnett Vane, and , she wrote for newspapers and periodicals j under that name. She married 'Braggert, and returned to the stage. She toured Australia with her own company, Cowell being her advance agent and secretary. She came to London in 1910, and wrote novels for women as Cora Minnett, and for men. as Pollen Hawker. She endeavoured to form a. development company to purchase land in Australia in connection with emigration. She returned to Australia in 1911 to negotiate for sugar land in Queensland, and oil concessions in the Blue Mountains.. The search'for oil, however, failed. Under cross-examination, denied that she had practised as, a Hypnotist, but admitted that she advertised herself as a clairvoyant entertainer. Questioned concerning William. White, who lent her £373, she denied commencing her letters "My Dearest Willie." Counsel produced copies of the letters, but Minnett repeated her denial. Finally the originals were brought, and Minnett said she had .forgotten writing them. She admitted that a foreign countess subscribed £SOO, and Mr W. W G. Spence, an Australian member of Parliament, who was an old. friend .of her father's, subscribed £7OO to her company schemes. < "BORDEPT.AND OF CRIMINAL STsTERPRISE." (Rec. March 4. 11.5 a.m.) LONDON, March 3. Counsel asked the judge to say that Cora Minnett had mo fraudulent or dishonest intent. Mr Shearman, oh behalf of the Commercial Bank, contended that Minnett's career was one on the borderland of criminal .enterprise. Cowell was ■• her dupe and masqueraded as her brother, living in the same house. She kent him. and he was a dummy director in one of her companies. Judgment was reserved.