RUMANIAN LIBELLED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20496, 22 February 1930, Page 11

RUMANIAN LIBELLED.

CAROL'S ENGLISH -HOST.

£12,000 DAMAGES AWARDED.-

STATEMENTS IN NEWSPAPER.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright,

(Received February 21, 7.45 p.m.) LONDON; Feb. 20. After a hearing of his case that lasted for 13 days in the King's Bench Division a Rumanian, Mr. Barbu Jonesco, who was Prince Carol's host during his stay in England in 1923, was awarded £12,000 damages for libel against the Evening Standard

The newspaper had alleged that his name originally was not Jonesco, that he was not really a Rumanian, bat a Pole, who came to England with, the Belgian refugees in wartime.. . - Mr. Jonesco's counsel said he was respected and prosperous until the allegation, after which people regarded, him as an imposter, which resulted in his bankruptcy.

Lengthy evidence, much, of it faker, on commission, was brought from Rumania to support the declaration that, plaintiff's name had always been Jonesco. He was born in 1585.. . -

A plea of justification was entered for the defence, which sieged that- his name was Moritz Lieba, and that he was born in 1391, his father being of Polish descent. The costs in the case are estimated to be £20.0C0.

Prince Carol of Rumania, when in England in May, 1928, issued a manifesto calling on the Rumanians to oust the young King Michael, and the Home Secretary informed the Prince that his presence in England was no longer welcome, and that he should leave without delay, which he did. He was staying at Oakhursfc Court, Godstone. Surrey, the residence of M. Jonesco (whose name was spelled Jonescu in the English papers—cu being a common Rumanian name ending). Madame Lupescu, Prince Carol's friend, was also in England.