TREASURY RUSHED MONEY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 57, 2 December 1946, Page 7

TREASURY RUSHED MONEY

HELP FOR WIFE CHARGED

WITH MURDER

A telephone call from financial experts at the Treasury to the Bank of England sent help and comfort winging across the Atlantic to Mrs Bridget Waters, the G.I. wife accused of murdering her husband, Frank Waters, in America. Mrs Waters has learned that her defence is paid for, and that the Sussex village of East Chiltington, where she once worked, had not forgotten “Nurse Bridget.”

A few minutes before the close of business at the Bank of England the Treasury rang up and authoi’ised the Bank to waive all currency restrictions so that money from the defence fund which had been opened could be sent to Mrs Waters by the quickest route. The fund was opened by Councillor W. J. Greene, of Lewes, Sussex, at 2 p.m. The- Treasury took a hand three hours later.

% “In such a special case as this there will be no restrictions,” said a Treasury official. “We consider it essential that people should be allowed to' have legal expenses. “As soon as Mr Greene has enough money to send an instalment he should get his bank manager to contact the Bank of England apd obtain their formal sanction.

“The money will go by cable. There will be no difficulty.”'

The Treasury move'd so swiftly that they had no time to inform Councillor-Greene of their action.

“I think it would be a nice gesture on the part of Sussex people if we, tried to help Mrs Waters,” said Mr Greene.

“I am asking all who sympathise with her—and there must be thousands—to sen<j[ donations to me at 17, Mount' Harry-road, Lewes, to supply her with legal aid.” Later an unsuccessful attempt was made to telephone to Mrs Waters, in police custody at Las Vegas, Nevada.

The caller was Mr J. Langlands, at Whose farm at East’Chiltington, Sussex, Mrs Waters once worked as a nursemaid.

“It would have helped her a lot to hear a voice from home,” said Mr Langlands afterwards. “She looked after my child splendidly. “I have already wired to her that I will do everything I can to help her, and I shall contribute .to Mr Greene’s fund.”