A PECULIAR CASE.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 November 1924, Page 3

A PECULIAR CASE.

•oc dank y('i:n for. damages

DEFENDANTS ALLEUK BLACKMAII

[IIEUTEItS TkI.EGUAM.H.] (tteceived tliis tiny at 9 a.in.) 11 LONDON, November 21. An interesting case is being heard on the King’s Dench, Charles Ernest Robinson claiming £3l !3-*>,ooo, the balance of the sum of Dioo,ooo .from the Midland Batik, as money alleged to have been received by tlie defendants for his use or alternatively as damages for alleged negligence. The defendants denied negligence or of receiving money for lie plaintiff s use. They also alleged that I'biintill vas concerned, villi otbeis. in a con spiraey to obtain money bv blackmail and lieAvas entitled to ictover. Plaintiff’s Counsel, Mr llalsburv. stated the plaintiff was‘nn Australian bookmaker who came to England in 1898 and started as a bookmaker under the name of Ploumfield. lie lost money and was made bankrupt in 1909. fu 1918 he met a man named..'Montagu Noel Newton to whom ltohinson introduced his wife, from whom lie was living apart, .Subsequently Newton made icitain allegations against .Mrs Jtobinson and this resulted in Robinson, mstrlifting Newton’s Solicitors to take divorce proceedings, llis wife asked him not to proceed, but be refused to listen to her. .Eventually an interview was arranged between a Mr Hobbs, connected with the firm ol Solicitors concerned and the Robinsons. aL which Hobbs banded Robinson twenty-five thousand ill bank doles, which Rnhinson banded to bis wife, .ltohinson also signed a document to be given to the solicitors for the proposed co-respon-dent. who was an Eastern potentate visiting Europe accompanied by an English gentleman and a native secretary. Counsel said it was not proposed to mention the potentate’s name, lie would bo iol'erred to as ‘Mr A. A friendship between Mrs ltohinson and Mr A. developed into great affection on her part, and she arranged to accompany him to liis own country. They went to Paris. A knock was heard at Hie door of their room at the hotel, and Mrs ltohinson opened it and Newton rushed in saying: “Now I have got you. and the evidence I want.’’ Mrs ltohinson returned to London. Newton called and forcibly took from her .CIO,OOO out of the £21.000 she bad left after paying 1 loblcs £I.OOO costs. Subsequently ltohinson learned that instead of the matter being settled for £2.1,000 it was settled for a ( heque for £150,000 given by Mr A., the proceeds whereof were divided between Hobbs. Newton and Mr A’s aide-de-camp. Counsel further stated that Messrs

Appleton, in January 1920, sent a letter to Hie Midland Ihink asking them to open nil account for Robinson. enclosing a specimen of his signature. The cheque was given to the Hank which collected the nest day. Hobbs cashed a cheque for £1:10,000 which was signed C. Robinson. Ilohhs paid £120,000 to the Paris Bank where Mr A’s aide-de-camp and Newton also opened accounts. Ilohhs transferred ninety thousand francs from his own account to the aid-de-camp’s. They were unable to trace anything from Hobbs’ to Newton’s account, hut Hohlis bought 3.300.000 French bonds and got rid of half of them. and. approximately that amount, namely £IO.OOO "as mysteriouslypaid into Newton’s account.