MR. F. R. SHACKLETON.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 143673, 18 December 1911, Page 5

MR. F. R. SHACKLETON.

DUBLIN CROWN JEWELS. LONDON, Oct. 27. Mr. FrancH R. Shackleton underwent his examination in bankruptcy yesterday. His gross liabilities arc £108,380, and his assets £1)620. In reply to que.s----i ions, Mr. Shackleton said that from 1803 ’ -to 1803 he studied botany and gardening; but in October, 1809, he was appointed assistant secretary out salary) to the Office of Anns at Dublin, and six years later became Dublin Herald, bolding that appointment until November, 1907. Replying to the registrar’s suggestion that there was trouble in 1007. the witness said, “Yes; the losu of the Crown jewels.” “Sir Arthur Vicars and others were uoked to resign. I was asked to resign also,” he added. “The oliic.e was reconstructed, Out I had nothing to do with it.” About 1902 ho began business as a rose-grower in Devon, with a borrowed ; capital of between £2OOO and £3OOO, but lie tailed. He had boon managing dircc- ; tor of the Celtic Investment Trust, a financial business. Between 1909 and 1 1910 lie had received from it £53,000. ; He was credited with payments of £51.000. He looked after the Celtic in the interests of Mr. Hird (the adopted son of Lord Ronald Sutherland Cower) and Afi/.s Browne. Then, in June, 1907, ho became n director of the International Finance and Development Corporation. Lid., wham last October went into compulsory liquidation. ; His !o:v-; was £20.1)00 in cash, besides! guarantor* for the company. j Air. Shackleton was asked about bis | transactions with Lord Ronald Gower. Scon alter meeting him he went to Lord Ronald's bouse lor a week-end. “but certainly not lor tho benefit of my brail li.” The Registrar; 1 don’t want to bo offensive, but- v/liat it amount* to is that yon were a tame cat about the house;- I —Mr. Shackleton: Yon have succeeded in using what you wanted to avoid—an offensive term. I was one of the family, ft was nob correct to Kiy. continued .Mr. ShacldeUin, that lie bad induced Lord Ronald to put £■lo,ooo into the international Corporation, vhough he believed the money was so invented. "Witness had, however, advised Lord Ronald to make a settlement on Air. Hird, and leird Ronald gave him £12.-100 to invent for that gentleman. Mr. Shackleton denied lie had said io Air. Hird, “1 want 10 .show my gratitude to you.” and that ho wanted to do so “because be had stuck up for you iirregard to tin* Crown jewel case.” “There was no occasion at that time io slid: up for me in regard to the Crown jewel ease,” Air. Shackleton exclaimed. The money had been invested partly in the International and Celtic Companies. T\m investments were worthless now—Mr. Hird had boon unfortunate—bur witness denied that he had tho 212,000. He only had £6OOO for shares bought from him by Air. Bird. In February, 1910. paid "Air. Shackleton. ho was overdrawn £45,-117. The hank asked him to reduce the overdraft, and ho reduced it to £4OO by .selling Monte Video shares. In the result, he admitted, Lord Ronald lost £IO,OOO, another gentleman £20,000, and he gained £30.000. He had met Miss Browne at Lord Ronald’s and knew she had £14,000 in securities, chiefly North British and Midland railway shares*. Ho did not say to her that he “would no: hold those shares a week,” but ho admitted that- she sold them and holds 30,000 Internationals. Ho afterwards had a further £IOOO from her. Replying to counsel, Air. Shackleton denied that ho had any connection with tho disappearance of tho Irish Crown jewels, and in confirmation counsel road part of the report of tho commission held to investigate tho matter. It said. with, reference Io “this great crime,” that A4r. Shackleton appeared to 1)0 a perfectly truthful and candid witness, and that there was no evidence before the commission that ho vvas the person who stole the jewels. This concluded tho examination.