“MY DEAR IRENE"

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 375, 8 June 1928, Page 1

“MY DEAR IRENE"

SOFT VOICE OF POLICE SCOTLAND YARD INQUIRY MISS SAVIDGE’S STORY REGARDING the recent Scotland Yard sensation, Miss Savidge has told the story of how she was treated to the investigating commission, and her case has been closed. (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian P.A.—United Service)

Reed. 9.5 a.m. LONDON, Thursday. The inquiry into the treatment by Scotland Yard officials of Miss Savidge, who was jointly charged with Sir Leo Chiozza Money in connection with an incident in Hyde Park, the case being dismissed by a magistrate, was resumed to-day. Mr. Norman Birkett, who appeared for the police, resumed his cross examination on the statement by Miss Savidge. She objected to several portions of it, and denied having made some of the statements attributed to her. Mr. Birkett asked why she initialled the pages containing them. Miss Savidge: Because I felt awful at the end of the cross-examination. I would have signed anything to get away. She described part of the statement regarding her attitude, with Sir Leo on the seats as all wrong. She said: “Inspector Collins suggested that, and rattled it into me.” When she said that was not what happened. Inspector Collins said: “It really doesn’t matter. Nobody else will read it.” Miss Savidge, further crossexamined by Mr. Birkett, said: “Inspector Collins kept taking my arm, saying, ‘My dear Irene,’ and promising that I would not lose my character if I let things go down on the notes.” Miss Savidge admitted that Inspector Collins read the statement page by page before the signature, but added that she had been there five hours, and that they told her not to worry, because they were her friends. She was glad to sign and get away. Mr. Birkett: You were conscious of everything included in the statement? Miss Savidge: Yes and no.

Mr. Birkett: A very good answer. Miss Savidge: When Inspector Collins was friendly he called me “My dear Irene,” but when he was threatening me he said, “Look here,” and called me nothing. Miss Savidge was under examination for five and a half hours, and collapsed ' the.CQurt in hysteria. Her father was the next witness. He said that on the night of the Scotland Yard episode, he found his wife distracted, and found his daughter abed, sobbing, beating the air, kicking her legs, and reiterating, “Why did they pick on me, an innocent girl?” Cross-examined, he said he knew of his daughter’s friendship with Sir Leo Money. He was vain enough to be pleased that his daughter was sufficiently Interesting mentally to attract a man like Sir Leo. “My daughter always told me he was a perfect gentleman,” he added. Mrs. Savidge gave evidence that her daughter came home exhausted and fell toward her, saying two men had been trying to get her to say what kind of a girl she was. Mr. Birkett cross-examined the mother, suggesting that Sir Leo’s intervention was responsible for the change in her daughter’s attitude, but the mother replied that Sir Leo only pointed out that the daughter was not compelled to go to Scotland Yard, and had no need to undergo the ordeal. Irene always told her beforehand if she was coming home late. Herbert Syrett, a solicitor, gave evidence that Miss Savidge’s statement as read in Parliament, was entirely bona fide, without the suggestions of Sir Leo Money’s interference. Sir Patrick Hastings, for Miss Savidge, said his case was closed. The inquiry was adjourned.