THE PRINCESS AND THE 'PLANE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 64, 8 December 1917, Page 10

THE PRINCESS AND THE 'PLANE

CURIOUS CASE IK LONDON

FEMININE INDISCRETION

Princess Lowenstein-Wertheim a widow of a German prince and sister of hard Mexborough, was recently at Manchester fined £50 on charges of 6upplying falso particulars as to herself to tho proprietor of (the Victoria Hotel, Manchester, and travelling more than five miles from her registered address, Upper Bolgrave Street, Belgravia, S.W. without the necessary permit. Mr. P. M. Heath, in opening the case for the prosecution, said that by her marriage the princess became a German subject. Her husband was killed in 1899 in the Philippines when fighting for the Spauiards against the Americans. Being an enemy alien she had to register and the particulars slig gavo on her form in London were . Surname: Ludwig Cher husband's name].

Christian name: 'Ann. Nationality: German. Occupation: Princess of LowonsteinWertheim.

On September 24 she left London, and went to Leeds without obtaining a permit and stayed with her sister, Lady Mary Savile. From there she wont to Manchester and stayed at the Victoria Hotel, where she registered as "Evelin Ellis, of 'British nationality," and gave her address as 118 Porcheiter Terrace, London, whereas she lives in Upper Bolgravo Streot. Thero is no 6uch place as 118 Porchester Terrace.

At Manchester, said Mr. Heath, slw wont to a controlled firm and asked them to make her an aeroplane to carry four passengers and of 200-h.p., with early delivery. It was not an offence under tho Defence of the Realm Regulations for an alien to attempt to purchase an aeroplane, but it was veryi suspicious for a German princess to adopt' the plan she did and attempt to acquire an aeroplane which was capable of remaining in tho air for atj least ten hours and of flying across the North Sea. Tho machine was capable of being put at the disposal oi the many Gorman officers who had escaped from their guards and were at liberty in this country. A Four-Seater 'Plane. Mr. Warmishaw, works manager for i Messrs. A. V. Koe and Co., aeroplane makers, said the princess came to the works about 7 p.m. on September 27. She said slio could, not tell him her name until she was satisfied thej could come to some business arrangement. "Can you make me an aeroplane?" sho asked. Hβ asked her what'type sbo required, and she replied, "A. four-seater, with two 100-h.p. engines." "That was a machine," said_ Mr.' Warmisliaw, "that would keep in tha air -with a standard petrol tank tor ten hours, and would be quite capable of flying across the North Sea." Tho princess then asked about the price, and he replied that it would be from £2000 to £3000. She asked how loug it would take to build, and he replied, "Four to six months." She said that was too long to wait. She then lett, stating that she was only staying that night in Manchester, and again declining to give her name and address, ! ' ' Detective Rabbitt, who interviewed the princess at the Victoria Hotel after the police had been told what had occurred at the aeroplane works, narrated the following dialogue ensuing on his question as to her identity:— The princess: "I am Miss Evelya Ellis, a British subject, born' in London on May 25, 1864. My parents were the Earl and Countess of Mexborough."

"How long is it since you lived afc 118 Porchester Terrace?"— The princess hesitated, and' the officer' went /on; "There is no such number,as 118.,D0 vou persist in stating that you have Jived at 118 Porchester Terrace-rif so» when?" "I really forget." "118 Porchester Terrace cannot be your permanent address." "My permanent address is 8 Upper Belgrave Street." "What were you doing at the aeroplane works?" "I went there to purchase an aeroplane." "What would you do with an aeroplane if you had one?" "I would help to do war work." "How would you help?" "Well, that is between me and the Air Board. I have friends in the Air Board. My plans are not for public information. I have made inquiries about aeroplanes in London and no fuss was made about it."

The detective then arrested her.

Her Passion for the Air.

Lord Mexborough, a captain in the Remount Service, was called as a witness bv his sister's counsel.

■ Mr. Acton: All the connection your sister has had with Germany as _ a country.is tho visits ehe paid during the two years of her married life?-* Yes. ■ ; : . ■

Has she ever had any German lean- , ings?— No. ■'■;.. . ■ Or any anti-British 'disposition?— . Certainly not; absolutely not. About the year' ,1910 ■ she developed a great passion for flying?— Yes. From 1910 she-has done a great deal of flying in various parts of the world?— Yes. ' :,' ~

In what year was it she flew across the , channel?—ln 1912, I believe.- She flew from somewhere in Susses to Dieppe.. , In May, 1914, she gave an order for an aeroplane../ She was very desirous that she should havo' an aeroplane of her own?— Yes. What attitude havo you and the other members of your family adopted • towards herjcraze for flying?—Wo hare taken the strongest attitude we could against it. It is a fact that she has been m communication with the Air Board?— , Yes. 'i'his flying and everything connected with aeroplanes has become an obession wISi her?— That's the word for it. Corntnander Sayile, R.N. (retired), a tousin of Hie princess, also gave evidence.

Mr. Acton: What do you consider hei , feelings in regard to this country?— She is perfectly loyal. Bfr. Acton read a letter from Father Bernard Vaughan, an old friend, who said There could be no question of her loyalty and patriotism as an Englishwoman. ■jJir. Acton, in his speech for the defence, said: "I ask the Bench to believe fliat this lady came over from , ' LeeSs to Manchester with the sole idea of making inquiries as to whether she could get an aeroplane for no other purpose in the world than assisting tho English if she could. Because s"Ee 3id not want her brother, Bister, and 7rlori3s to know wUat she was doing she committed the grave indiscretion of travelling without a permit and registered in a wrong name at an Hotel."

Tho stipendiary, in giving his decision, said: "With regard to the circunisCanco that followed the arrival of the kay in Manchester the Bench acquit her of any motive which is in anyjvay inconsistent with her loyalty to mis country."