IMPOSTER UNMASKED.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5380, 28 January 1929, Page 3

IMPOSTER UNMASKED.

CRIMINAL LIBEL. MAN LIVED BY HIS WITS. Described by the police as a “Specialist in finding dubious fortunes in Scotland for working people,” Herman Stephanie Bethell, 42, clerk, was sentenced at Durham Assizes to three months” imprisPinment in the second division for, publishing a defamatory libel concerning Thomas Marshall Laws, of Cramlington, Northumberland. It was stated that Mr Laws was a claimant in - respect of the Laurieston estate in Scotland, and accused conducted negotiations for, him. The defamatory letter’ written to Laws during these proceedings stated: “Of all the insignificant, sophisticated, and despicable humbugs you’re the limit.” It added that the actions of Laws and his relatives could be describedl in one word, “Putrid.”

“A damnable thrashing is what each of you deserve,” the letter continued, “but by sei doing it would necessitate one’s flesh coming into contact with such parasites as you, and: so doing would be, as it were, contaminating, with filth and garbage.” The letter referred to Laws' and his family as “ten degrees wors.e than skunks,” and added, “I do not know whether it is not a libel on my part in comparing the skunk to yourself.

Defending counsel declared that the case was a waste of time. Laws was a disappointed man, and Bethell bad! behaved in a reprehensible way. A police inspector stated that Bethell had' been organiser ta the Navvies’ Union, and at one time he belonged to the Communist Party.Mr Justice Roche : I do not want that, except that it clearly shows he throws his tongue where he gets a little nwneiy. It is another form of imposing, upon the credulity of the public. The judge examined certain payers from Bethell., and remarked that one of the letters was from the Conservative Party, thanking (Bethell for offering his assistance in their, campaign. It seemed: to show that he was earning, money where he could by his wits.