STORY OF A WOMAN.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13321, 5 March 1914, Page 9

STORY OF A WOMAN.

ACTRESS, AUTHOR, AND COMPANY PROMOTER.. (Press Assn.—By ' Teießraph-^Copyrlgtit.H ; LONDON, March 3. > In ■ the..- King's Bench division the Commercial Bank of Australia continued its suit against Cora Minnett, alias Bella Hawkner, and Herbert "Cowell, alias Herbert Harker, to recover £2600 sterling which Robson, the manager of tho bank, wrongfully delivered defendant, Robson gave evidence that he lent Minnett £2300 for the Anglo-Austra-lasian Development Company, and 'also £500 to write a play. Minnett gave evidence that she was born m New South Wales and her name was Jones. She went on the stage as Cora Minnett Vane, and wrote to the newspapers periodically over that name. She married Braggert, and returned to New South Wales and toured Australia with her own company, Cowell being advance agent and secretary. She came to London m 1910, and wrote novels for women as Cora Minnett and for men as Pollen Hawker, fcho endeavored to form the Development Company to purchase land m Australia m connection with emigration. She returned to Australia m 1911 to negotiate for sugar land m Queensland, and oil concessions m the Blue Mountains. Tho search for oil failed. •■ ■> Minnett, cross-examined, denied practising hypnotism, but said she advertised herself as a clairvoyant entertainer. Questioned concerning William White, who le**ht her £373, she denied commencing letters, "My Dearest Willie." Counsel produced copies, and Minnett repeated her denial, but finally the originals were brought, and Minnett said she had forgotten writing the letters. - .; She admitted that a foreign, countess subscribed £500 to the company and said W. G. Spence, an Australian member of Parliament and an old friend of her father, subscribed" £700.