THEFT CHARGES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 February 1941, Page 8

THEFT CHARGES

“BARON" ON TRIAL. DINED WITH VON LUCKNER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND. February 11. The hearing of two theft charges and one of receiving against Corneille Hubert De Mey, aged 47. farmer, was continued before Mr. Justice Fair in the Supreme Court today. In the course of his evidence accused said his real name was Baron Corneille Hubert De Mey d’Alkemacle. Accused was charged with stealing i £2O and £2BO and with receiving £lO, ■ the property of James McCann, and I pleaded not guilty. In evidence he said ihe was at present serving three ! months in gaol in connection with I other charges. He had been desirous ! of getting a small farm and had callel i upon McCann to see if he could lease ' his property. He denied the alleged ] thefts from McCann. ; To the Crown Prosecutor. Mr. V. R. ' Meredith, accused admitted that in ! 1937 he was involved in a civil litigai lion at Auckland and £9OO was award;ed against him. In 1935 he was arresti ed in Wellington on the allegation that ! he was going to "blow up” the city, ! He was placed in a mental hospital ' I for a month, and subsequently the i ; charge against him was thrown out by | ' the magistrate. Accused admitted that ! he had been in Honolulu in 1935 and j ; was known as "Baron." t Mr Meredith: And you were then] fixing up a flying corps for Haile Sei- ! ! Accused replied that there had been j ! a lot in tile Press that was not quite! I correct He admitted that Press photo- ! ! graphers produced and entitled "Baron ! i Corneille Hubert De Mey d’Aikemade" j ■ were pictures <•■{ himself. He had told' j the police chief in Honolulu that he; 1 had been in trouble in New Zealand > land was going out to do lus bit for! | Haile Selassie He had backing in] ! America and the uniform which he I i wore in Hie photographs would have' I been recognised if he had been able to; ] gel to Africa. I Mr J F W Dickson, for accused < ] ire-examining': You are in fact a| ! baron’ 1 | .Accused replied that the title was I Mw.Mly granted by the Dutch to his! • rumif.ither Mr servie.-s ttl tlte Great] War. 1!.- had dropped the title for 1 lhe present as it had been suggested! I that he was one of the heads of the - "Fifth Column" in New Ze.-ikmd i He i-.dmittcd that he had dme.i with] j Count Von Luckner. bet hi* w:e defiTh.- hearing w;e, adpafre.<-d

,il] tho opporlllWcL ■ I;. C. ' Alt!’ ugh he b.ad h,. : ■ i ■ 'l'on.siV tin ■eh,,!. ' When :!»e sebo 1 exone come ;d b.e f thel -.cd 'lf y..u ‘-core ill’'A in..i■- cm ~f ;i: ■ Jeti'-e F.fiber i'.-n hr; eye down e 1 Ti: ~. e,. .io 11',.:’