THE SOLDIER OF FORTUNE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 60, 29 February 1908, Page 4

THE SOLDIER OF FORTUNE.

YON YKI.THEIM AND HIS HIO! A HONS WITH MB. JOEL.

The late Mr. Woo If .Joel. Was a partner in Vhe Barnato hint, ami \va- >uoi dead in uis ollicc al -Johannesbuig iiy \ on Veltlicim in March, 18!) S. Mr. Sol Joel.—Younger brother of Mr. Wool!" doel and nephew of' Hie la'.c Mr. Barney Barnato, member of the linn of Bainato Brothel's, and director of De Beers diamond mines. Franz von Wltheim.--A Herman-Ameri-can, who has lived an adventurous life, was tried for murdering Woolf Joel, i but was acquitted. i

Fran/. Yon Velthciin—the soldier ol fortune who is charged by Mr. Solomon Barnato Joel with demanding XHi.OOt) with threats • strode dramatically across t lil l Moor of the old Council Chamber of ! the Huildlwll yesterday (says the Loudin "Daily Mail"). lie carried a grey "cowboy" hal in his right hand, and, with some impatience. Hung it into a corner under the raised platform oil which tlie magistrate was to sit. Mr. Joel had arrived ten minutes earlier. His caiofully parted hair and neat attire were in striking contrast to the man whom, as he acknowledged under cros> examinat ion, he has described a- •• a murderer, a bigamist, and a desericr." , J Yon Yelthcim, tall and powerful :n build, was preceded and followed by le- 1 tectives, 'who-e figures—robust and ath I letic as they were—seemed insignificant | by the towering height of the man they i

guarded. All the doors of the court were guarded by additional policemen. Air. Joel walked unobtrusively to the counsel's Ikuicli, and sat near the end. lie alternately twirled his moustache and rubbed his hands. He did not even tdancc at von Yelthcim, who took a seat under the magistrate's bench and faced the prosecutor. Yon Yelthcim looked at him steadily, but, before the magistrate—Alderman Sir Heorge Smallman—came in, a de-tective-insjH'ctor touched his should M' and pointed to three chairs that facd the magistrate. He 1 hen rose slowly, and. with his guardians still on either side of hi ; n, walked with a bored expression to the , place indicated. Here his back was to Mr. Joel, although, before many moments had passed. Mr. Joel was in the witness-box, and they were again face to face.

Von Velthcim's attitude throughout was characteristic, lie seemed for the part. Indifferent. Now and again an amused smile tiitted across his face, and at one time he donned his pince-nez ami stared with seeming interest at the, pictures which adorn the -walls. (bice only did a Hush of excitement light up his grey features. When Mr. Joel alluded to what he regarded as a threat to murder him and his brother, von Vcltheim sprang to bis feet, exclaiming in a loud clear voice, " Ami commit suicide!'' (Probably the most dramatic event <.f the day's proceedings. However, occurred when Mr. Artemus Jones—who, wi'.h Mr. Preedy, was defending-—alluded to the fact tiiat at the trial in Johannesburg von Veltheim was acquitted by the jury of the charge of murdering Mr. Woolf J Otil'. Mr. -Joel's face, always pale, Hush m 1 with excitement as, bringing one hand heavily on the rail before him, he almost shouted: "1 know he killed my brother."

" lu spite of the fact that, after a protracted 'hearing, the jury acquitted von Veltheim within three minutes of the end of the judge's charge V urged counsel. " Yes; Ido believe it—l know it/' said Mr. Joel. ** I remember the judge's comments," he added. "Do you really say that you fear him —that you beliere he will murder you?" demanded Mr. Jones.

" Ves—l do." Mr. Joel glanced nervously at von Veltheim as lie spoke, and again exclaimed, "He killed my brother.'' "Have you not taken these proceedings to avenge your brother's death'/" asked counsel.

"No—to protect my own life,", re turned Mr. Joel dramatically.

The scene was clianged from the (iuihlhall Police Court to the old Comril Chamber. It was here that Whitaker Wright stood his trial prior to his committal and the tragic event that followed his conviction in the High Court. The hall was as crowded as when Whitaker Wright sit ip the prisoner's chair. City men—solicitors, stockbroker*. merchants of every description—tilled the seals and stood in deep liles at the rear. Hundreds unable to gain admission were turned away.

The spectators listened with ill-cou-tealed impatience lo two foreign witnesses who were interposed. When, after a full half-hour had gone bv, Mr. Joel was called by Mr. Gill, K.C., who — with Sir Charles Mathews and Mr. Bodkin—i* prosecuting, a deep hush fell on the court. Mr. Joel left his seat, and, with a quick glance at the stalwart prisoner, entered the witness-box. lie answered counsel's questions for the most part in a low, unimpassioned voice. Re said that on September 3rd he received a letter from Mr. Du Millar, an Antwerp financier. .-dating that he held a draft on him for £10.0(10. Mr. Du Millar called on him on the following day, and was received by Mr. Abrahams, hi* solicitor.

He himself and Detective-Inspector Pentin occupied an adjoining room, where they could overhear all that was taking place, while a shorthand clerk, named Tagg, was taking verbatim notes of everything that was said. '• Did' Mr. Du Millar say wlmt would happen if the bill was returned?" asked counsel. •'He said von Veltheim would come over ami prcseut it himself," replied Mr. Joel.

This concluded the examination, and the stillness became more intense when Mr. Artemus Jones rose to crossexamine. He spoke in low, earnest tone*, and occasionally broke off to read notes that were passed to him by voa Veltheim.

"After the trial of von Veltheim for the murder of your brother did you get a letter from him?" asked counsel.

"No." replied Mr Joel. "1 did not g"'t it." Do you know who got it?— Yes, it was never sent on to me until the other day. because of the advice of my medical and legal advisers.

There was a dramatic interlude at this point, counsel suggesting that Mr. Jo<d had. by his agents, "harried" von Veltheim into seeking Government protection.

"Arc yon aware that a week or tell days afterwards an attempt was made j upon von Veltheiin's life';" asked counsel. .Ml. .loci Mu.ok hi- head. And he appealed to the Iran>vaal ( iovj-i iinii'iit lor protect ion against the agents whom you had employed to assassinate liini-No. Are yon aware that the hotel in whi-'lt I lie was staying was burned down ' -.Y>.

"Now. at the time you received this letter in .June did you honestly believe it to be a threat to murder you !" asked counsel. "Yes, I did,'' replied .Mr. ,loel with eniphasjs. .Mr. .loncs paused here, consulted his brief, anil then asked:-- " .Mr. doel, did it come out that von Veltlieim declined to turn State evidence against the linn of liarnato':" "No: certainly not," replied the »:t-

"I put it In \<m." toll!iniUMl counsel. " that the (jxpiv.-sion you have Rioted ua- an iilhisii.n to the fact that. although the jiiK-r iiiivcniuifiit ollVred him a [lanlon for turning Statu cvideme against your firm, he resisted that oliw, and stood loyally hy lhe secrot agreement that In- had with liarjiato J.rolh-

'' Nothing ol' iho surl." replied Mr. 1 -loci, "it untrue." \ "Arc vou aware that on tin l iir.-tl occasion on which ox tradition was aj»- j plied for it was refused by tin- Kreii.-h (loverninent T " Yos." was t he answer. ; Aud later mi did you mmmi' further; allidavit* iti Uic-e I t-n-yciii " Ki>nict " ]rH'.*r*'/ - \ v~. In these further allidavits ymi duscrihed Mr. Velthoiiu lirst of .til as a | iuurd«'ivr. M-niudlv as and ihirdly a» a desert;»r'' Ye-. | radii ion was Mi .niti'd on Ih: 1 of t-hosp sunni statement- of your>l don't know. "Mr. .Iniics Uii'ii read an oMriirt iKiui Mr. .M's allidavii. whieli s,i,l Yrlllie'm " foully killed and inunleved " his Imdhcr. " Are (lie>o faei> within your own .personal knowk'dgeV i\A<vt\ counsel,

" 1 was not present." You have already told me that you followed tlie murder trial very closely? -Yes. " lu the light of what turned out at that trial and the verdict of the jury, don't you know tliat the statements you have sworn to there are absolutely untrue V"

"No," replied Mr. Joel, raising his voice, ''certainly not, as lar as my own opinion is concerned." Notwithstanding the verdict ol the jury you still believe he murdered your 1 irot her ? —Absolutely. V>u know, of course, that the tragedy took place in one of the rooms at your ollice in Johannesburg? —Yes. Three men were present —your brother Woolf dotd, Harold Strange, and Y-d----tlieim? —Yes.

"And it was your brother who locked the door?'' Mr! Jones added. "You know Mr. Barold Strange, your man-

n The magistrate interposed. " Mr. Sol Joel was nut, there, ami cr.nuol know •what took place,he said. " Vou had a conversation about the tragedy?'' asked counsel. " Yes." Do you know admitted firing the lirst shot? -Vou need not answer:.' said the

magistrate, stddressiug .Mr. Joel. The trial went on for some, days, and the jury, after three minutes' consideration, returned the verdict of "Not (Unity I '?— Yes.

Alter you l<-ft Soulli Africa, in 1B!)S, | dill yiiu employ agent- t" watfli \eltheim? —No. Did von ever Ml any lime employ agfttts!—No. lias your solicitor employed agents!— Not to my knowledge. Have you ever given such instructions to your solicitor?—Ao. When you left South Africa you left your brother Woolf in charge, with insiructions to take proceedings against the writer of the letters? —Jf he could be traced. Do you know that from the day -*l r - Woo If .loci found out the writer of the letters he held live secret interviews with Veltheim unknown to the ]loer police'!— No. And that at the trial the police complained? —No. Can you give any explanation why, although you have known the writer "t these "Kismet" letters for the last ten years, you have taken 110 steps to prosecute until now'!—l (lid not know his whereabouts. Sir. .Tones tlien tried to obtain an idmission from Mr. .Toel that von Veltheim had some business dealings with the Barnato firm. "This," he explained to the magistrate, " would account for the le;ter* 011 which the prosecution relied. ' " You told us on the last occasion that Mr. Vcllheim hail no business of any Mirl with your linn?'' he asked. " Yes," said Mr. .Toel.

Were you iu Capetown with Mr. Barney Barnato in April or May, 18i)T? — In Mav.

Have you seen Mr. Veltheim converse there with Mr. Barney Barnato?—Xo; my uncle was very ill in bed. and I was telegraphed for. Don't you know it was at Mr. Harney Barnato'* request that Mr. Veltheim went out to South Africa? —No, it •* untrue.

Are you aware that Mr. Barney Ba: 1 - nato employed Mr. Veltheim as political agent ?—1 have already denied it, "Von Veltheim speaks of your blind hatred of him. Is that true?' 1 asked counsel. " Well, 1 do not think it very blind,"' replied Mr. Joel tiereelv; "he killed my brother. 1 should not think 1 have any cause or reason to be otherwise."

And it is suggested that these proceedings are to avenge your brother's death if-—Not at all! to protect my own life. You >till say you were afraid*.'—Ye*. Of letters written by a man in a corner of the Continent?—! did not know where he was. A man who wrote you ten year* ago. and has not yet carried out his threatT— He ha*. In his letter he said he would murder me or my brother. Counsel dealt with another sentence in which von Veltheim said lie had a secret agreement with Mr. Woolf Jogl.

Mr. Sol Joel said he believed the statement was absolutely false. lie was lad. in Africa two year* ago, and he did n'd discus* the present proceedings with Strange, " You yourself took part iu the Jameson raldV suggested counsel. "J did not take part in the raid," said Mr. Joel, U 1 was a member of the Ueform Committee."

"The service* for which von Veltheim was demanding payment were certain services rendered to Mr. HaVnato immediately after the Jameson raid," Mr. Jones stated.

41 That," said the magistrate, "doe* not justify these letters, even if he did." "Do you know that the late Mr, Harney Barnato paid von Veltheim ;Cl,;>Ul>?" inquired counsel. " No," retorted Mr. Joel, " \ do not." The fact is not reeojxled in the books of the lirm?—No; it is not true. Your firm has never made any secret payment? —Not to my knowledge. The hearing was adjourned.

[The cables liave since informed u* that von Veltheim was sentenced to 20 years* penal servitude.]