M.P.'S ALLEGED FRAUDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18020, 20 February 1922, Page 7

M.P.'S ALLEGED FRAUDS.

BOTTOMLEY V. BIGLAND.

VERDICT FOR DEFENDANT.

ACCUSATION'S UNANSWERED. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright. (Received 4.30 o-m.) A. and N.Z. LONDON. Feb. IS. At the Shrewsbury Assizes the trial of Reuben Bigland on a- charge of inciting. persons to extort money from Horatio Bottomley, M.P., opened yesterday and concluded to-day in an acquittal of the : accused. j Several witnesses for the prosecution' stated that defendant had' endeavoured to induce them to extort money by threatening Bottomley with exposure during a by-election in which Bottomley was actively assisting General Town-. shend's candidature. Counsel, opening the defendant's case, said Bottomley in 1918 was unable to repay Bigland money borrowed, and arranged with Bigland that his nominee should win the third prize of £1000 in a war stock scheme which Bottomley was organising. It also was arranged that a Liverpool friend of Bottomley should win the first prize, and a soldier in the trenches the second prize. Bigland's niece duly won the third prize. Bigland, who entered the witness-box, gave astonishing evidence. Asked why returned £1000 in war bonds to clear lits conscience, ho replied: "I was mixed up in many matters with Bottomley. This to my shame and sorrow was ono j of the things I have done which was not | straight Bottomley persuaded me in ! 1918 to balance an account in which I, had lent him £1000 by becoming a party j to a swindle in what was termed a waf| stock combination." j Bigland described the scheme and: added that Bottomley arranged that for | money owing and services rendered Big j' land should receive third prize of the, value of £1000. The services rendered related to his introducing a man named Greaney to Bottomley. "Bottomry faked j a case against Greaney," continued Big- j land, "and the arrangement was that I j was to print a scurrilous pamphlet deal-1 ing with law cases in which Bottomley j, had been concerned, and Bottomley would, sue Greaney. Bottomley did so and gotj| £500 before Tour Lordship. Bottomley I gave Greaney £100 for his participation | in the case. His reason for framing the Case was to get a verdict in order to J frighten others from doing such things.' Mr. Justice Darling, summing up, pointed out that though Bottomley was in Court he made no attempt to deny Bigland's extraordinary stories of fraud. The jury found Bigland not guilty.