BOTTOMLEY AGAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 February 1922, Page 5

BOTTOMLEY AGAIN.

A THREAT OF EXPOSURE. AMAZING SEQUEL IN COURT, By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Feb. 19, 5.5 p.m. London, Feb. 18. At the Shrewsbury Assizes the trial of Bigland on a charge of inciting persons to extort money from Horatio Bottomley has commenced. Several witnesses gave evidence that defendant endeavored to induce them to extort money by threatening Bottbmley with exposure during the Wrekin byelection, in which Bottomley was actively assisting General Townshend’s candidature. Counsel, in opening defendant’s case, said Bottomley in 1918 was unable to repay Bigland money he borrowed, and arranged that a Bigland nominee should win the third prize of £lOOO in a war stock scheme which Bottomley was organising. It was also arranged that a Liverpool friend of Bottomley should win the first prize, and a soldier in the trenches the second prize. Bigland’s niece duly won the third prize.

Bigland gave astonishing evidence. Questioned why he returned £lOOO worth o-f war bonds to clear his conscience, he said: “I was mix*ed up in many matters with Bottomley and this, to my shame and sorrow, was one of the things I had done which was not straight. Bottomley persuaded me in 4918 to balance the account in which I had lent him thousands of pounds by becoming a party to a swindle in what was termed the war 'stock combination.”

Bigland described the scheme, and added that Bottomley arranged that for money owing and services rendered Bigland would receive the third prize valued at £lOOO. He related his introducing a man named Greaney to Bottomley, and added: “Bottomley • faked a case against Greaney. The arrangement was that I should print a scurrilous pamphlet dealing with law cases in which Bottomley had been concerned and Bottomley would sue Greaney. Bottomley did so, an<l got £5OO before your Lordship. Bottomley gave Greaney ClOO for participation in the case. The reason for framing the case was to get a verdict in order to frighten others doing such things.”

Mr. Justice Darling, summing up, said that though Bottomley, was in court he made no attempt to deny Bigland's extraordinary stories of fraud. The jury found Bigland not guilty.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.