MINISTER AND “CROOKS”

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 39, 9 May 1927, Page 12

MINISTER AND “CROOKS”

A CRUSHING DEFEAT BIRKENHEAD TO SHREWD Members of a gang of Continent crooks who tried to play a confides trick on Lord Birkenhead while b was on holiday at Funchal, Madeir. met with one of the most croshi* defeats they will ever encounter, ac cording to the “Daily Mail.” The tv men stayed at the hotel where Lor. Birkenhead and his family were spenc ing their holiday. Meeting the Sea* tary for India in the hotel one of ther remarked that he knew Lord Birkeihead was a great student of the English language, and suggested a ga® known as “spelling bee.” The other man joined in and urged that the!Bntish statesman should test his skuL k an instant Lord Birkenhead suspect* a plot. Turning scornfully on the ®fhe remarked to his challenger: “Sir, do not know you and I never want ’ meet you again. You have forced ycattention upon me, a procedure I »*'- allow, nor will I allow you to upon me any competition by which think you may overcome a strange The man was nonplussed, and faturning away when he was gT«-' with the remark: “If you wish to k* £IOO I will dive you from the jspringboard of the swimming morrow at 11 o’clock. The trials.’ lamely accepted the challenge. All guests at the hotel became the event, and at the appointedl ugathered to see the contest. Lordlßkenhead, who is 54, is an expert W having won many prizes for his win the north of England. T« e Jr did not appear, and when later to pay his forfeit of £ 100 was evas' and pretended that Lord Birkenahad not accepted his challenge, other man became insolent, aD “ f J: cused Lord Birkenhead of being *- to play a simple word -making He was startled when Lord ou head boldly declared that trie were international crooks, whose ■ cords were known to the po*** several countries. Lord Birk«n®"; told the men tha„t if they did n°j r their bill and leave within nj® hour he would expose them anfl them driven from the island. . time he knew nothing of the®r. history, but his bluff had SUCC Iw The crooks admitted that the of their visit was to fleece visitor* that they had been associated ** t Continental gang. “We will lea once, but do not give us into c-jsw* they pleaded meekly.