FINED AND THRASHED.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 206, 28 February 1912, Page 4

FINED AND THRASHED.

MR. BOTTOMLEY IN TROUBLE. By Oable—Press Association—Copyright; London, February 26. Horatid Bottomley was fined £loo' for contempt of court in publishing a slanderous article in the newspaper John Bull, because the Prudential Assurance Company refused to participate in his bankruptcy scheme. ' JF As a result of a personal grievance, Mr. Aubrey Lowe severely thrashed' Horatio Bottomley,in the Strand. Mr..' Bottomley, declined to prosecute, although challenged to do so. .',

BLACKMAIL PROVED. THE REASON FOR TKF ASSAULT. ', "*' Received 27, 10.30 p.m. London, February 2fl. Mr. Bottomley was subjected to a searching cross-examination, directed toshow that the newspaper John Bull, which had denounced financial swindlers,'," afterwards published their advertisements. Bottomley admitted that he had authorised a barrister to hint to the 2m* dential Company's representative that " he was willing to publish no further at- -,) tacking articles if the Prudential Com- * " P»ny agreed to the bankruptcy scheme; The judges said that Bottomley's evidence chiefly convinced them that the' charge of blackmail was established. It would be useless to inflict a heavy fine, ' since the editors would have to pay it.' A Mr. Aubrey Lowe, who is well known ' in the West End, twice knocked Bottom- \. ley down. Lowe states that the quarrel i commenced a year ago in Edinburgh, ...I during the pantomime season. . ( ; j The Express states, that Bottomley has,/i been dining at Romanos with Peggy■',/ Primrose, an actress, who was the mistress of Aubrey Lowe. [A, report of the Bankruptcy Court proceedings appear on page 2 issue.]