SUIT AGAINST BARONET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19633, 11 May 1927, Page 11

SUIT AGAINST BARONET.

ALLEGED INDISCRETIONS. liberal fund and title. FORMER PARTNER'S EVIDENCE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received May 10, 5.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z.-Sun. LONDON, May 3. Reference was made to an alleged payment of £35,000 to Mr. Lloyd George's political "Fighting Fund." in a case in which Robert James Watkin is proceeding against Sir Henry Sam man, a Hull shipowner, for £1350, for services rendered at Leeds. Mr. Watkin in his evidence, said he was office boy in the defendant's firm in 1896, and became a partner in 1917. He admitted receiving a gift of £IOOO foxmanaging Sir Henry Samman's affairs while he was on a trip round the world. He also had received other emoluments. The plaintiff admitted writing a letter in which he said he had no kgal claim to the £1350, but he hoped Sir Henry would recognise his claim for certain reasons. He meant to transfer the funds ror the benefit of a woman who had a child et' which the defendant was the father. Counsel asked whether Watkin included a reference to a youthful affair which preceded Samman's marriage, hoping that Saniman would buy his silence. Watkin: Certainly not. Watkin denied that he had inserted in his letter of claim a reference to a payment of £35,000 to Mr. Lloyd George's fund as tiie consideration for a baronetcy being conferred on Sannnan, thinking that the latter would be willing to pay, instead of having the matter ventilated in a court of law. The case was adjourned.

Sir Henry Samman, the first Baronet of Rout.li, is a shipowner and underwriter at Hull. Ho is an elder brother of tho Hull Trinity House. His Baronetcy was conferred on him in 1921.