A LADYS LOAN TO AN EX-M.P.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9452, 24 August 1889, Page 2 (Supplement)

A LADYS LOAN TO AN EX-M.P.

Jcjdge Bacox, at Bloomsbury County Court, on July 11, heard the case of De Quiros v. Borlase, which was a claim for £50, money lent under extraordinary circumstances.

Mr. Marshall Hall represented the plaintiff, and in opening the case said that the defendant was -Mr. W. C. Borlase, the late member of Parliament for St. Austell, who recently went through the Bankruptcy Court. Madame de Quiros was a lady with whom Mr. Borlase had lived for some years. At the bankruptcy proceedings he made some allegations against Madame de Quiros, but they were disproved, and since then ho had come fawning and cringing upon her, saying he was in great digress and starving. She foolishly lent him £50, and he wrote her several letters. When he first told her he was starving, she said, " I must put you in a little home," and def. ndant wrote a letter saving, "I look forwn d to the little home with delight,] belie ring it will be the opening of a new and brighter career. I promise you that no improper person shall ever enter there, find that Mrs. Borlase shall not. know where I am." Further than this, he was in such straits that he asked her if she would get his linen washed and mended, some of it being, he wrote, " mere rags," and also to get his clothes mended and pressed. When these I clothes arrived, out of the pockets of one of the pairs of trousers fell two love letters from a former maidservant of Madame tie Quiros, and addressed to the defendant, and ending " Your loving wife." This so enraged .Madame de Quiros that she immediately withdrew all her promises of support, and demanded the return of the £50. Madame de Quiros, of 10, Avenue Road, deposed that she lent him before the bankruptcy proceedings £3500, and this claim was allowed. Since this action she had I written, saying that upon receipt of £100 she would give up certain letters. His Honor : How often did defendant call on you? Plaintiff: As often as he wanted to borrow money. He had no other object in calling. (Laughter.) ilia Honor : What was the dividend in the bankruptcy proceedings ? Mr. Hall: It has not been declared, and the discharge has boon suspended for three years, So you can gather your own conclusions. Mr. Borlase, for the defence, said that he 'had twice seen the plaintiff since the bankruptcy proceedings. Once when she met him where she was driving she got out of her carriage and asked him how he was getting on. He told her he was furnishing chambers. She then said some of that property which was held to be his was at her house, and she would let him have it. He had not received one single .-ixpence from her since the bankruptcy. lie once called on her, but received no money. This was a pure matter of extortion. Madame de Quiros came to his chambers and removed a blind roller. She placed nothing in the rooms whatever. Cross-examined: He was formerly M.P. for St. Austell, and the bankruptcy petition was presented by Mr. Lewis, money-lender, and Madame de Quiros. He forgot what the a aount was that he failed for. Pressed, he thought it was £30,000. He didn't remember chat Madame de Quiros had to pawn her jewels after his bankruptcy. She raised money upon effects which he held to be his, and which were of great value. He thought her jewellery formed part of it. He save every atom of it to her. His Honor : I suppose you gave the jewellery for something. You cannot call it yours now. Mr. Hall : I ask you on your oath is that letter, beginning "My dear Willie," addressed to you ? Defendant: I received two extraordinary letters. From whom they came I never knew. I presume from some servant of this woman. Mr. Hall, in closing his case, submitted that no credibility could be given to Mr. Borlase, and observed that he had degenerated into a form of lower animal since the bankruptcy proceedings. Mrs. Williams, Madame de Quiros' companion, deposed that defendant often called at the house for money, and she herself saw him take one £5 note, and often went for change that Madame de Quiros might lend him money.

His Honor gave judgment for the plaintiff, being of opinion that Mr. Borlase had undoubtedly borrowed the money.