GRAVE CHARGES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1630, 23 December 1912, Page 5

GRAVE CHARGES.

THE MISSING CROWN JEWELB. SOCIAL SCANDAL HINTED 'AT. By Tolee«M>h—Preea Aflsoelntion-ooDyTiirh.t (Reo. December 22, 5.5 p.m.) London, December 21. In the House of Commons, Mr. Ginnell (member for Westmeath, Ireland), declared that the theft of the Crown jewels had been mixed up with debauchery. One of the thieves, he. said, had been a railway guard who had previously robbed tho Buluwayo-Salisbury mail, and wantonly killed the Kaffirs. He had been kicked out of Thornycroft's HoTse, but subsequently secured a commission in the Royal Irish Regiment. In conjunction with a fellow officer he had engineered the theft, and when accused of the crime had threatened revelations compromising others. He had not been brought to trial for social reasons. Both officers had since resigned the army. Mr. Birrell (Chief Secretary for Ireland) angrily repudiated the suggestion that ho had not acted because he feared a scandal. Mr. Ginnell might know more than tho police, but, said tho speaker, he had never furnished the criminals' names. ■ Mr. Ginnell; interrupting, shouted two names across the House. Mr. Birrell, ignoring the interruption, continued, and said that the police had assured him that there was no ground for arresting anybody.