MIDLAND BANK CASE.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 December 1924, Page 3

MIDLAND BANK CASE.

[Rkutkkb Tr.i.Kon.YMS.] JURY DISAGREES. (Kscoivetl this clay at 8 a.m.) LONDON, November 20. In the Hank ease the foreman announced that the Jury was unable to agree on an outstanding f|iicstion. Air Justice Darling said lie did not think it. was material enough to send the Jury back so they "ere .therefore discharged and the Judge left the Bench. HOBBS CHARGED. (Received this day at 0 a.m.) LONDON, November 20. Hobbs was charged at Bow Street under the Larceny Act with receiving on 27th. December. 1010, a banker’s cheque for the payment 1 of £150,000, which cheque was stolen from abroad. Hobbs was remanded till oth December. in custody. A Scotland Yard Inspector described the arrest of Hobbs at Gravesend as he was on the point or embarking for Rottordrm. When the warrant was read, Hobbs described it as quite absurd.

judge SUMS UR. LONDON, Nov. 28. In the bank ease, in which the exbookmaker Robinson claims £120.(i09 from the Midland Bank, Sir John Simon. for the Bank, said that this was the first time in the history of the law that a man had bad the hardihood to come to Court and claim a stupendous sum. which had been proved to be the result of blackmailing. The jury, be said, had an opportunity to teach the plaintiff that it would be the last time. Lord llalsbury, for claimants contended that the cheque had specially been endorsed to Kobinson. Me said Hobbs was Robinson's agent, and. the cheque became Robinson’s property the moment' it went into the hands ol Hobbs. The evidence of the solicitor. A Voters had exploded the conspiracy allegation, for “Air A.” had never complained to him that he had been blackmailed. It was an insult to tlie Jury to put into the witness box the man Newton, a mini who had been Isnight for the sum of C3OOO, to come and support the Bank’s own story. The Bank’s defence, he said, was mudslinging. Counsel denied that a xhnrcoiit had occurred. Air Justice Darling, in summing up, said Air A. gained nothing. It was all publicity scandal despite the precautions taken to conceal his name, it was difficult to believe llmt anybody who knew him would he unable to identify him. He emphasised that it was only for State reasons that he (Darling) had assented to the secrecy as to the names of Air A. and lii.s aide-de-camp. He was of the opinion that the aide-de-camp had played a part unworthy of an Englishman, and lie deserved every punishment which could lie inflicted on a person who had disgraced the English name. Replying to the Judge's questions, the Jury found that there was a conspiracy to catch Air A. with All's Robinson, with a view of getting money' from Air A. and that Air A. was induced to part with two cheques from fear; also that Air A’s. mind was so unsettled by the circumstances of bis discovery, that his action in parting with the cheques was not free and voluntary; hut the jury also found that the plaintiff was not a party to any Htieli conspiracy, nor was Airs Robinson. The Judge put some further questions to the Jury, who again retired. LONDON. Nov. 2!,'.

The police detained Hobbs at Gravesend last evening, and are bringing him to London.

ENORMOUS PUBLIC INTEREST. LONDON. Nov. 21). The dramatic detention of llobbs was not an unexpected sequel to the great bank case. Police action in other quarters is considered to be not improbable. It would bo inaccurate to describe the action regarding Hobbs as an arrest. No warrant was issued, and no charge lias vet been preferred. Special Scotland Yard detectives Haul Hobbs with a man at Gravesend ill flic circumstances already cabled. I hey brought both to London. The public . whose interest in the case had leai'hril ""white heat, yesterday, are much puzzled at Us conclusion. The people expected a simple, understandable verdict. Instead, the newspapers, which were almost snatched out of the vendor’s hands recorded merely the jury’s answers to certain questions, and their lailure to answer others. For the purpose of clarity the “Daily Telegraph’s” summary is given herewith- The jury found that there had been conspiracy to obtain money from Afr A. whose action in parting with it was neither free nor voluntary. 1 lie jury found that neither Robinson nor his' wife were a party to this conspiracy, and that the Bank, in paying out 1H50.000 obeyed the mandate "hereunder it received the amount. Tho remaining questions are us follows: - “Were the words ‘pay order G. Robinson. Appleton a lid Company.’ appearing on the hack of tho cheque, written by some person as agent U>r Appleton and C’o.?”—Answer: “No “Had Hobbs and, or. Appleton and Co nnv intention of transferring their whole rights, if any, in cheque to Robinson?”—“No.” . . “Did Hobbs in drawing out the money, purport to act under the same authority as that whemimler it was paid in?”—“Yes.” . A question, whereon the jury were unable to agree was: “Mere the rights of Hobbs and. or Appleton—whatever tliev were—in tho cheque ever transl erred bv either, or both, to Robinson.The ease has excited the most intense interest. During the whokweek the Court lias been besieged by ’’ long queue to the public gallery. The newspapers have published whole paces of evidence. Kadi day the case yielded some new sensational development. The ease read like the most exciting newspaper femlletoii. “The Daily Express” says: The tension in the packed Court broke ... to a surprised gasp when Air Justice Dulling read the jury’s answers. Momen leaned and tapped barristers shoulders, and asked: “What does it mean? Mho lias won ?” . . ~ . ~ The fact only stood clear that the jurv had removed the names of the Robinsons out of the rn.ro of •i.tngue. Airs Robinson sat gazing at Juliet Darling with a faint smile of satisfaction. She loosened the folds of he sable wrap, leaned over, and whispered to her husband. It is understood that the costs are likelv to amount to C 35.003. ’ LONDON, Nov. 2D. Mrs Robinson, after the jury’s decision said: “Aly honor and ehnrnctc. Imvo been cleared, and my husband and myself have been vindicated. I do not care about the money. Nolauly knows the worry and agony f have suffered during the past five years with this stigma over me! T have been insulted right and left. Now I am satisfied I am clear I” SCOTLAND YARD INQUIRIES. LONDON. Nov. 2D.

Tlici “Dailv Chronicle” says: Scotland x Yard has been engaged in enquiries in w ' the Robinson ease for many months. Detectives were in the law courts throughout the trial. Many officers yesterday were both inside and outside "the Court. . . Hobbs was formally arrested with Ins companion, mid wasdetained at Oraycseiul. The police believe Hobbs intended to embark for Rotterdam.