AN ACTRESS’ TRIAL.

Waikato Argus, Volume XXX, Issue 4730, 15 June 1911, Page 1 (Supplement)

AN ACTRESS’ TRIAL.

Many columns were devoted in the German newspapers recently to the trial of the Russian “money broker” Margolin and his actress Bwceth<*art Frau Eurna Froelich, who were accused of forgery and fraud, involving a sum of about £7500. It is alleged that Frau Froelich impersonated Frau lleclit. the wealthy mother of the “Countess” de la Kamee, and by forging Frau Hecht’s signature obtained the money from various institutions in Berlin. Frau Froelich was once a popular Berlin operetta singer, and, like Margolin, was a well-known figure in the after-midnight life of “gay Berlin.” Margolin was a particular favourite in many frivolous resorts, where he was famed for his immaculate clothes and his open-handedness. The couple cut a sorry picturre in the dock. Margolin wore an ordinary striped tweed suit in contrast with tiie elaborate attire of his better days, while the “night-life” habitues who occupied most of Che room in court hardly recognised Frau Froelich iu an olive-green skirt, a simple lace blouse and a plain green felt hat. Frau Froelich was often in tears. The process of the Jaw revealed the fact that Margolin is 13 and Frau Froelich 42. Both looked older as the result of seven mouths in gaol. Margolin made full confession, but attempted to exonerate Frau Froelich, who, he said, had forged and sworn falsely wholly to please him. “She would sign her own death warlantr,” exclaimed Margolin, “out of love for me.” Frau Froelich pleaded ignorance of the illegality of her acts even after the judge had angrily rebuked her for trying to make the jury believe that she was really so naive. After a seventeen hours’ session the two were found guilty of forgery and fraud, and sentenced to 42 months’ hard labour and IS months’ imprisonment respectively. the closing scenes of the trial were highly dramatic. Just before the jury retired, a few minutes before midnight, Margolin addressed the court in hia own defence, asking no mercy for himself, but begging clemency for his sweetheart, Frau Foelich. “Don’t add to the burden of my conscience by convicting her,” he exclaimed. Then the actress, crying pitiably, appealed to the jury to find mitigating circumstances in her

case. When the jury returned the court was still crowded with spectators who bad followed the proceedings since nine o'clock in the morning. Margolin received his sentence stolidly, but Frau Froelich turned deathly pale and stood as if suddenly turned into stone. The prisoners have appealed fur a retrial. SAVE YOUR MONEY by SPENDING YOUR MONEY ’at George Court’s, Hamilton, wttfre the strictly CASH SYSTEM saves you at least 2a in the £l. An Austrian doctor advises everybody to yawn as deeply as possible with arms outstretched. Receipt from London tramways for the last financial year amounted to £1,907,949. Chamois leather is not the hide of he chamois, but the flesh side of Sheepskins. s Common brown paper \ may be , ade to act as a magnet.