Maharajah Sued by Girl

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 750, 24 August 1929, Page 20

Maharajah Sued by Girl

Story of Pawned Jewellery

7§g"WSJ«!HE Maharajah of Burdwan gave evidence in London County Court in a case in which lie was sued by ("XU-f* 1 -X’i Miss Messina Bell. Six feet three inches in height and of powerful build, the Maharajah was a striking figure in the witness-box. Counsel for Miss Bell said the ac.; tion concerned certain articles of jewellery which had been pawned by the Maharajah’s daughter. The case had gone to a divisional court, counsel added, and had been adjourned from there to the county court for judgment in respect of two articles —a brooch and a ring valued at £25. Mr. Horace Pqol, employed byMessrs. Sutton, pawnbrokers, of Victoria Street, said that on October 29, 1927, he received from Miss Bell a collection of jewellery. Miss Bell was loaned £4O upon the articles, which were taken out of pawn by the Maharajah of Burdwan on May 13, 1925, on payment of £43 10s. , Miss Bell HI Mrs. Bertha Bell, of Philbeach Gardens, South Kensington, said that at present her daughter was in a nursing home, where she had just undergone an operation. Mrs. Bell identified the diamond ring and brooch as part of her mother’s Jewellery, which had been given to her and which she later gave to her daughter long before their return to England from India.

Mrs. Bell said that before she went to live at South Kensington she had been living in Calcutta. Her daughter was IS when she came to England in 1927. Mr. R. Fortune (for the Maharajah) : When you say your daughter wore the ring you were young enough to have an interest in rings?—l was.

When you sent your daughter home in this ship alone in 1927 she was 18?—About IS. Mrs. Bell said that she had never run a boardinghouse in her life, but when living at Harrington Mansions. Calcutta, she had a few paying guests because she had extra rooms. She added that she herself had never been in financial difficulties and had given her daughter money when she required it. The Maharajah then went into the witness-box. He said he met Miss Bell at Calcutta in April of last year when, with the Maharanee and his daughter, he was leaving for London His daughter and Miss Bell became friends, and the Maharajah said ho suggested that Miss Bell should stav with them until she went to an aunt

Miss Bell, said the Maharajah, told him she had not much money with her, and in addition to giving his daughter dancing lessons he suggested that Miss Bell should also give him lessons, for which he paid her £1 Is a lesson. The Maharajah said Miss Bell had helped him in miscellaneous correspondence, and once she wanted to borrow £ISO. The ring mentioned he bought for his daughter in Calcutta. “Very Wealthy” Mr. Jacob (for Miss Bell): You are a very wealthy man? The Maharajah: I am reputed to be. Your daughter was in debt at the time all this happened?—She incurred a debt at a time when she was under age. The Maharajah said that when Miss Bell left his house, his daughter lived with her in a flat which his daughter furnished. He was allowing his daughter £IOO a month for its upkeep. Daughters Story The Kumari—daughter of the Maharajah—said she gave certain articles of jewellery to Miss Bell to pawn. She borrowed money from Miss Bell and admitted writing to aer from Nice, saying that she owed debts amounting to £3OO, “which God knew how she was going to pay, as she had not a sou.” When the Kumari was being questioned about her debts, the solicitor for Miss Bell suggested to counsel that the Maharajah was prompting his daughter. Judge Hargreaves told the Maharajah to move to a seat farther from the w-itness-box. He did so, placing a small hat upon his head until he was again seated. The judge held that the Maharajah had admitted having the articles in his possession. He (the judge) preferred the evidence of the Maharajah and the Kumari to that of Mrs. Bell as to the ownership of the jewellery in dispute. He would find nominal damages of one shilling each for Miss Bell in respect of two unnamed articles. He allowed costs to the Maharajah in respect of the defence of two articles.