THE CASHIER AND THE WOMAN.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1998, 4 March 1914, Page 7

THE CASHIER AND THE WOMAN.

BANK'S SUIT FOR RECOVERY OF £2600, ■ > ■■' ' • CORA MINNETT'S STORY. By Tel'eerapli—Press Association— Ooprriflht . London, March 2. In the King's Bench Division the case in which the Commercial Bank of Australia is suing Cora Minnett, alias Bella Hawker, and Herbert Cowell, alias Herbert Hawker, to recover £2600 which Kobson, ■ the cashier, wrongfully delivered to defendants, was continued. Robson gave evidence thijt he loaned Cora Minnett £2300 for an Anglo-Aus-tralasian Development Company, and also gave her £500 to write a play. Cora Minnott, examined, said that she -was born in New South Wales. Her name was. Jones. Sho went on the stage as Cora Minnett. Vane, and wrote for. newspapers .and periodicals und.er. that namp . \ She married a man named Braggort, and. returned to her native State, afterwards touring Australia with lief own company,. Cowell being her advance.agent and secretary. Sho came to London in 1910, and wrote novels for women as "Cora. Minnett," and for men as "Bella Hawker." She Biideavoured to form a development company to purchase land in Australia in connection with emigration schemes. She returned to Australia in 1911 to negotiate for sugp.r land in Queensland and oil concessions in the Blue Mountains. Tho search for oil failed.

Cross-examined, the defendant denied that she had been practising hypnotism, but she' had advertised herself as a clairvoyant entertainer. Questioned concerning ono William White, who had lent her £373. she denied commencing her'letters "My Dearest Willie.!' • ■ .

Counsel produced copies, but she repeated hor denial. Finally, the originals were,brought, and she said that she had forgotten having written them. She. admitted that a foreign countess had subscribed £500, and • ■ lhat W. G. Spence, an Australian Parliamentarian, and an old friend of her father's, had subscribe;! £700 towards her ventures.