MILLIONAIRE'S CAREER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 173, 20 January 1912, Page 8

MILLIONAIRE'S CAREER.

LIBEL ACTION AGAINST AN AUTHOR.

Sir Joseph Benjamin Robinson, the millionaire, wlio is so well-known in connection with South Africa, was plaintiff I in an action for libel that came before the late Mr. Justice Grantham and a special jury in London on Nov. 21 and 22. Defendants were Mr Louis Cohen, author of a book entitled "Reminiscences of Kimberley," Messrs Bennett and Company, the publishers of the book and the Wessex Press. Limited, the printers. The two latter defendants, it was stated, had apologised. Sir Edward Carson, K.C., opened the case on behalf of Sir Joseph Robinson. The libel was of a very scandalous character he said. It charged Sir Joseph -with, fraudulent dealing and swindling. Most of the matters- were alleged to have occurred' 30 or 40 years ago. In addition to swindling, Sir Joseph had been charged with cowardice and lack of patriotism. Counsel said in the alleged libels Sir Joseph was described by the author as follows: —"Sour visaged and unsympathetic, he looked as yellow as a bad apple and as green as a leaf with spleen." In another passage he was accused of "toss verneuking," which meant said counsel, Boer swindling. Another extract quoted was, "B. J. Robinson is indeed a man of many parts —a soldier who disdains to fight, a musician who cannot hear, a philanthropist without charity, and a patriot without country." j3ir Joseph Robinson in his evidence sajd! that since 1899 hehad been living in England, and his present residence was -Dudley Home, Park Lane. He was born in Cape Colony in 1840 of British parents. His father was a land proprietor, and after he left school he worked with his father <?n the estate, where they had sheep, cattle, 1 and horses. Afterwards he began business for himself at Dordrecht and then . l?ft for Bethulie, on the banks of the Orange River, where from 1863 to 1868 he carried on a , wholesale and retail .mercantile business, and bought large tracts of land on which he raised cattle, sheep and hoifses. v IFI-RST DIAMOND. When news came of diamonds having been found on the Vaal River, hfe ,equip- i ped an expedition with wagons, guns and" ammunition, and set out for the Vaal River and explored it. Did you become the buyer of the first diamond found there? (asked 1 counsel).— Yes! at Heilborn. After the exploration he bought a laTge tract of land on the Orange State: side of the Vaal, opposite Heiiborn. It proved to be diamondiferous land. Did you despatch the first parcel ,of diamonds?— Yes; to London; At that time was there any white population in that district ?^None..whatever. About 1886 discoveries of gold were made on the land. He 'gfrt' fearly information; and.went,there,.and was-for-tunate to secure a large, portion of land which proved t<> be gold bearing. The Robinson- group of companies were formed and had been very successful. He was in England at the time of the Jameson Raid in 1896, and was sent by Mr, Chamberlain to the Transvaa.l to restore good relations, and remained there for nearly three years. When the war broke out he had been back in England about four months. He was back in Africa this spring, and his attention was called tfr' the plaintiffs book. PLAINTIFFS DENIALS.. What is the meaning of "Verneukipg" ? —Swindling, and to defraud. A V"verneuker" means a swindler, a man who defrauds. ' To what is the word "winkling" applied?—An insignificant shop. ' What is the man who' keeps that shop called?—A "winkler."—(Laughter.) Were you in business as a "Winkler"? —The witness laughed heartily and answered that he was not. , ■ Were you ever a "verneuker"?—No. The witness- said he formed the Kimberley Light Horse, and his total contributions during the Boer war and after the restoration of peace were over £IOO- - The story that he sold pebbles for coffee was an absolute and malicious lie. He did not know Mr Cohen beyond seeing him in the street. In cross-examination -witness was asked:—ls it a fact that when you were in the Orange Free State your reputation was that of a well-known illicit diamond buyer?— Certainly not. . Mr Cohen, the defendant, in evidence, said the term "verneuker" was harmless. If he had had any malice against the plaintiff he could have put in his book that he saw him flogged in the main street of Kimberley. When the case was resumed defendant Said' that he was an actor and journalist, and was the' best-known man in Kimberley. He knew all the millionaires. That was why he' was so poor to-day. "(Laughter.) They were all mentioned ifii his book. He said less of the plaintiff than of anybody else. Mr Victor Woolfe said in 1870 he was on the Vaal River at Heiiborn, where diamonds had -been discovered. Asked what was plaintiff's general reputation witness said that it was reputed, that he purchased diamonds from the niggers who were working for others. Another witness named Berger said plaintiff's reputation at Kimberley was not anything of the highest. Summing up Mr Justice Grantham said that Mr Cohen was an "exhibition of a man steeped up to the .eyes in malice and all uncharifcableness." In, the witness box he had to make charges", and "went 'on with his poisonous tongue." ' The jury returned a verdict for plaintiff, for '£looo against Mr Cohen, and £IOOO against Mr Bennett. Judgment was not asked for against the Wessex Press, but it was entered for the plaintiff against both the other parties.