BANK'S MISSING FUNDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15548, 4 March 1914, Page 9

BANK'S MISSING FUNDS

CASHIER AND A LADY.

STORY OF VARIED CAREER.

ACTRESS AND NOVELIST.

By Telegraph.— Press Association.— Copyright

(Received March 3, 5.5 p.m.) London, March 2. Further evidence was heard to-day in the action in which the Commercial Bank of Australia is suing Cora Minnett, alias Bella Hawker, and Herbert Cowell, alias Herbert Hawker, to recover a sum of £2000, which Robson, the ex-cashier who has just been sent to prison for embezzlement of the bank's funds, is said to have delivered wrongfully to the defendants.

Robson gave evidence that he lent Minnett a sum of £2300 for the Anglo-Australasian Development Company and also £500 to write a play. Search for Oil Fails. Minnett stated that she was born in New South Wales, and that her name was Jones. She went on the stage as Cora Minnett Vane and wrote to the newspapers and periodicals under that name. She married Braggett, returned to the stage, and 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 sales of sugar land in Queensland and oil concessions in the Blue Mountains. The search for oil, however, failed. Forgetful Witness. Minnett, cross-examined, denied practising hypnotism, but admitted that she had advertised herself as a clairvoyant entertainer. Questioned concerning William White, who had 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 had subscribed £500 and that Mr. W. G. Spence, a member of the Australian House of Representatives, and an old friend of her father's, £700.

The case was afterwards adjourned.