SENSATIONAL CHARGE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 932, 30 November 1933, Page 1

SENSATIONAL CHARGE.

Man Alleged to Have Demanded Money With Menaces From King. ACCUSED VERY EXCITED IN COURT. (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Received November 30, 12.40 p.m.) LONDON, November 29. CHARGED with “ uttering, knowing the contents thereof, a letter demanding money from the King with menaces and without reasonable, or probable cause,” a man named Clarence Gay Gordon Haddon, aged forty-three years, appeared in the Bow Street Court this morning, as the central figure in one of the most sensational cases for a long time. Crowds waited outside the Court, hut were prevented from entering. During the proceedings Haddon told a defective: “ I made a petition. I made an appeal for justice. I have not demanded, I only pleaded. I deny the charge.” Haddon became extremely excited several times and seemed on the verge of a breakdown. The Prosecutor suggested that it might be thought desirable for a medical report to be secured on the accused, and Haddon was remanded in custody till December 4.

The evidence stated that when arrested accused said: “ This is the only thing I wanted. I do not see why I should be hounded about for being an illegitimate son of the Duke of Clarence. I do not deny writing the letters, which I wanted read in Court, but I did not make any demand.” Replying to the Magistrate, Haddon said: “ I’ve only tried to live as an honest rtian. It has been thrown up at me since I was a kid. I had to leave jobs through it, and I had to leave the Imperial Maritime Customs. .When I got promotion it was thrown up against me.” The “ Daily Herald ” says that the man is a consulting engineer. He -was arrested last night at an address in Islington by officers of the Special Branch of Scotland Yard, after an allday search. It was considered advisable at one period yesterday to put a special guard

outside Buckingham Palace. Everybody entering the courtyard, which is usually free of entry, was subjected to close scrutiny and was questioned. Haddon, who is six feet tall, with a commanding presence, was dressed in a smart lounge suit. He carried a typewriter with him to Bow Street, where, the “ Daily Herald ” says, his fingerprints were taken and he was placed in a cell.

His Royal Highness Prince Albert victor, Duke of Clarence, was th? eldest son of King Edward VII. He was born on January 8, 1864, and died on January 14, 1892, from influenza. It was intended that he should marry Princess Mary of Teck, who afterwards became Queen Mary. .On July 6, 1893, however, Princess Mary married his Royal Highness, Prince George of W ales, Duke of York, who succeeded to the throne on May 6, 1910, as King George' V.