“GOLD ADVENTURESS”

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12095, 24 March 1925, Page 6

“GOLD ADVENTURESS”

LADY DARKER DENOUNCED ONLY PERSON ABLE TO EXPLAIN PUZZLING CASE. * DECLINES TO ENTER BOX. By Telegraph.—Press Assn. — Copyright. &nd N.Z. Cftblo Association. LONDON, March 22, * At the resumed hearing of the "Waterhouse case, Mr Justice Shearman ruled that the case must go on against all tlm defendants. Sir David Wilson-Barker s counsel ihtimated that he did not propose to address the jury, as there was no facts to go to them. Mr Justice Shearman: There is no allegation against him, except that he is responsible if his wife is liable. _ Lady Wilsou-Barker'6 counsel * aaid that he did not propose to call evidence. Mr Rr.yner Goddard, K.C., addressing the jury on behalf of the defendant Sheldon, said that the only rag of evidence against Sheldon was that at a time when there was no complaint against him he was alleged to have confessed to having participated in an infamous blackmail conspiracy; yet this white-haired old gentleman of 74 was not charged with, receiving a penny as the result of the conspiracy. SHELDON’S DENIAL. ' Sheldon gave evidence that he had never helped Lady Wilson-Barker to compose any letters nor confessed to Sir Herbert Waterhouse that he was implicated in their composition. The witness said that he told Sir Herbert Waterhouse, when he was taxed with the statement that money from Frank Waterhouse had been traced to witness’s account, that it was "absolutely impossible. He had never had a solitary pound from Frank, alive or dead. Cross-examined, the witness Sheldon said ' that he thought Lady WilsonBarker told him. she had bad the money. * The evidence concluded. Mr Haydon, addressing the jury on behalf of the plaintiff, said that it was a difficult and peculiar story of a lady of supposed* distinction, yet an unscrupulous, cruel, cold, calculating adventuress. If the jury found against her, that description must rightly apply, for the only person who could explain the questions was Lady Wilson-Barker hersolf, but she had not dared to go into the witness-box. It is alleged against Lady Barker that she gained the confidence of Frank Waterhouse, an invalid of means but of weak character, and then obtained thousands of pounds from him by blackmail. Mrs Waterhouse is the plaintiff in the case.