A QUEER TALE TOLD OF THE TRAFFIC IN HONOURS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 735, 12 April 1933, Page 8

A QUEER TALE TOLD OF THE TRAFFIC IN HONOURS .

To-day’s Special Article

A Mystery Man who Sought £12,000 From a Retired Officer of the Navy.

(Special to the “Star/’) LONDON, March 1. Just when proceedings were becoming particularly interesting, the hearing suddenly ceased of a case in which J. Maundy Gregory, of Hyde Park Corner, was charged with an offence concerning traffic in honours. Gregory, a well-known figure in Society, was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment. The case had attracted widespread attention because of the frequent circulation of rumours alleging traffic in honours, not only in England, but also in every country where dignities are conferred on public and private men in recognition of their services to the Crown. Seldom, however, is there any concrete evidence to support the stories that are told in clubs, in offices, and in the street.

was charged at Bow Street under the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act, which became law in 1925. The principal witness for the prosecution was Lieutenant-Commander Edward Whaney Leake, D. 5.0., R.N., retired. He had been told, he said, that if he paid £12,000 certain mysterious doors would be opened and a knighthood conferred on him. First there was a telephone message asking for a private interview. Letters and telephone calls followed at intervals until, on January 23, Leake went to Gregory’s house and received the surprising intelligence that some of the highest authorities in the country were anxious that he should accept some kind of honour. The suggestion was for a knighthood. 44 Why,” Leake said, “ this is the biggest surprise to me. I cannot understand the meaning of it, unless it is desired in some way to recognise my war services.” Gregory replied, "Yes, yes, that is what it would be for,” and added, 44 your name has been mentioned several times, and is very high up in the list at this moment.” Saying that 44 these matters had to be arranged,” and that 44 sinews were necessary to open closed doors,” Gregory mentioned £IO,OOO, but added that £12,000 would be more effective. Lieutenant-Commander Leake asked Gregory for his credentials, and Gregory gave him the names of several well-known people. They discussed the prices that were paid for honours over a number of years, and Gregory claimed to have been instrumental in arranging 44 these matters for a considerable time.” Went to Treasury Solicitor. The Attorney-General, who prosecuted, carried the narrative a little further. Gregory, he stated, said that the New Year’s Honours list was full, but a supplementary list might be issued in February, and if Leake’s name was not in that, then it would appear in the King’s Birthday list. Gregory arranged for a lunch at the Carlton Hotel, at which his 44 friend, Lord Southborough,” would be present. The Attorney-General hastened to explain that beyond Gregory's assurance, there was no information to justify the statement that Lord Southborough would attend the luncheon. As a matter of fact, the luncheon was not a success. The Lieut.-Commander did not pay a visit to the Carlton. Instead, he went to the Treasury solicitor, and explained everything that had occurred in connection with Gregory’s proposition. Then he telephoned to Gregory that he had no further interest in his scheme, telling him that his decision was final, when Gregory suggested that he should give him £2OOO on account to keep the pot boiling. Plea of Guilty.

At this interesting stage the case was adjourned, to the disappointment of thousands of newspaper readers. Gregory’s counsel explained that on his advice his client would plead guilty. Detective-Inspector Askew, of Scotland Yard, who had had charge of the investigations, said that Gregory had never been convicted of any offence before. Mr Fulton (for the prosecution) : Have the police had a number of complaints of a similar character to this one? Inspector Askew: Yes. Mr Fulton I don’t propose to carry it any further than that. The Magistrate: I don’t know exactly what that means.

Mr Fulton: A number of people have paid, or have been asked to pay, money to Gregory in connection with the receiving of honours? Inspector Askew: Similar transactions. Gregory’s counsel pleaded for a monetary penalty, but the Magistrate, having commended Lieut.-Commander Leake, imposed a sentence of two months' imprisonment, in addition to the maximum fine of £SO, with fifty guineas costs. Honours are a delicate subject, and it was left to the Liberal paper, the “ Star/’ under the heading, “ What Price Honours?” to ask: “ Who can be satisfied with the result of the attempted sale of honours case? Not the King, who is the fount of honour; possibly the politicians, who know quite clearly the connection between party funds and honours; certainly not the people, to whom these honours make certain individuals in some way superior. The gentleman pleaded guilty to the charge of attempting to obtain £IO,OOO as the price of a title. Yet he did not receive the maximum sentence under the Act of 1925. When that Act was passed it was stated that certain persons made a regular living in this way. Two months’ hard labour seems a mild deterrent from such an easy and profitable way of life.” Gregory’s Career. Gregory was a remarkable man, according to the stories told in the Press. He had hosts of acquaintances in all grades of society. Some years ago he was closely connected with the theatrical profession, but more recently he has been publishing a monthly periodical called the “ Whitehall Gazette.” He occupied palatial offices in Parliament Street, between Scotland Yard and the Prime Minister’s residence. Apparently he was on terms of close friendship with eminent politicians. He moved in the Royal enclosure at Ascot, attended first nights of West End plays and numbered theatrical stars among his intimate friends. A distinguished political-] urist was his frequent guest at West End luncheon parties, and members of the peerage and lesser lights sat at his dinner table. Gregory always cultivated an atmosphere of mystery. A visitor to his offices would be astonished by having to pass through a number of doors, which mysteriously closed as he passed through, barring all egress without authority. Gregory occupied a magnificent room and sat at a massive writing table covered with important looking red dispatch boxes of the type used by the Foreign Office and other departments. From the walls hung portraits of Royal personages, some autographed. Pictures of the British Royal Family were displayed on his mantelpiece. It is reported that echoes of the prosecution will be heard in the civil courts, when actions will be taken claiming heavy damages, one in connection with the proposed conferring of a baronetcy on a well-known knight, and the other relating to a knighthood to a man well known in the West End. It is interesting to note that, according to a cablegram this vreek, “ Reynolds’ Illustrated News” declares that the arrests of British engineers by the Soviet are partly in retaliation for a foolish attempt, in which Maundy Gregory was implicated, to disseminate separatist propaganda in the Ukraine and Cossack districts.