SCHOOLBOY'S HONOUR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21520, 17 June 1933, Page 2 (Supplement)

SCHOOLBOY'S HONOUR

FALSE CHARGE OF THEFT VINDICATION IN COURT BOMBARDIER WELLS' SON A dramatic story of the vindication of a public schoolboy who had been branded as a suspected thief was related in « a London Court on May 10. The boy was the 19-year-old son of Ms. William Thomas Wells —Bombardier Wells, the former heavy-weight boxing champion of Great Britain and his ordeal under unfounded suspicion was revealed when a settlement was announced to Mr. Justice Branson of an action which Mr. and Mrs. Wells instituted against the governors of Westminster School. Sir Patrick Hastings, K.C., counsel for Mr. and Mrs. Wells, said the action was brought to put right a real misfortune. Young Wells left a private school with the highest character to go to Westminster, where his record was a very remarkable one. In his first term he got iiis houso cricket and football coloum, and was in the school eleven which played in the big cricket match against Charterhouse, lhat was unique. . , „ fhen Wells' parents- received a call to the school. They interviewed the headmaster and were told that there had been thieves in the house, and that suspicion pointed to their son. There was a difference as to what happened. The parents understood that unless they took their son away that day he would be expelled.

Shortly afterwards, continued Sir Patrick, information came to the parents, and simultaneously to the headmaster, as a result of which it was made clear beyond the possibility of doubt that the accusation against young Wells was without the slightest foundation. The headmaster, said counsel, was willing that young Wells should return to Westminster. But that was not enough. The honour of the boy to himself was beyond price, and so was the honour of his school. It was important it should be made clear that no other boy of the school was implicated in any way. Mr. Stuart Bevan, K.C., said the school authorities, for whom he appeared, were now satisfied that the hoy was completely innocent of the charge against him. "Unhappily," he added, "circumstances combined together so that the linger of- suspicion pointed strongly. Subsequent events, unexpectedly happening from a surprising quarter, put both parties alike on the path of truth. •*' This boy can go into the vorld free of any taint of having committed any offence and free of suspicion," said 3lr. Bevan. He that the record in the-case should be withdrawn, aud Mr. Justice Branson agreed..