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ALL OVER THE WORLD Case-book of Sir Patrick Hastings, K.C.
IT'S A SAFE NAME!
WINTER
BRINGS
MORE
FIRES!
THE CASE TALKING
T
reason,
Sir
Chapter 6
OF THE MONGOOSE
to
that Mr Lambert wal,
Then came Bir Cecil's turn to
not appear to find the
HE sensational alan- taining in the service of the From the outset of the pro- that it was Mr Murray who first the muggestion that: der action brought Institute a gentleman on whom oeedings Sir Cecil had placed made
and op- himself in great difficulty; the "Lambert is a curious fellow"__ by Mr Richard Stan- they held decided
posing views, and it may well words he was alleged to have a suggestion that had never ton Lambert against be that the dispute caused Sir spoken while tapping his fore been made before,
head' Sir Cecil Levita in 1936, bo- Cecil
emphasize thefr to chamber significance undoubtedly meant be cross-examined, he questions came known as "The Caso high opinion of Mr Lambert,
Whatever the of the Talking Mongoose."
Like many other slander Ccell decided to withdraw the which he had, ex- actions it began as an ab- sponsorship
pressed to Gladstone Murray, surdity, but once it got out and again invited Mr Murray of hand it developed almost to lunch. into a tragedy, partly be cause it need never have played been fought.
bert
At that lunch Sir Cecil dis-
A such remarkable change of view about Mr Lam-
and expressed that view perhaps in A little generosity,
such extreme terms, that a little
Murray fell it his duty to aven
sense, Mr common
to convey those terms to an end
Mr might have put the whole controversy; but Lambert neither was forthcoming and the action was fought to tho bitter end.
vulgar parlance, "cracked:" quite so easy to answer as those that he was not honest, and he had been asked by his own
was not Gt to retain his position counsel. on the Council,
because no privileged
САД one
2
If a man spoke to you about Sir Cecil had taken on him a friend, and interspersed his self the burden of proving observations by tapping his those allegations to be true. forehead and saying: "You Did he himself believe them? know," what would you under- If he did, it might be thought stand that to mean?-1 caw more likely that he had said fkm a few days ago, where the those words: If he did not be tapping of the head llove them, hia
of plea
Did you hear my question? I privilego inust disappear: am not interested in your film be experience. What would you in saying words understand him which he knows are untrue. said that that is the conventional
As an example of the some Cecil Levita must have
According to Murray, Sir what rash way in which the suffered great mental distress
Cecil had sold that Lam- Justification had been framed, 13 well as enormous financial
bert
WOS mentally un Bir Cecil had undertaken to lost, and the British Prime
balanced. and that the BBC Minister found it necessary to appoint a Parliamentary Com ought to withdraw their con- TEL. 26862 mission to inquire into the cir- sent to his continu'ng to
the Council of the Film under on
Lambert Institute.
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Tapped head
sign.
to mean?--I ;
Third time
would you understand
prove that Mr Lambert had I will ask you once more. left his house in Cobham be what act
he believed it to be a spell. In truth Mr him to mean? To mean that he
was lacking in intelligence, had never left o
That he was out of his mind?
Memorandum
You realise, do you not, that at some time your evidence may have
be criticised before the jury? Just think once more. What
you understand would him to mean? That he was put of his mind.
He said Lambert was a be, house in Cobham, for that of Not necessarily, Mr Lambert was the Editor
In the occult, and in any other cause, for the simple The Listener,
official lever an BBC publication, and he was stanced the fact that Lambert reason that he had never lived
the Council had also a member of
expressed belief in the there at all. the British Film Institute, existence of the Talking Mon- financed
Government goose. by the
Alme, produce educational and closely associated with the BBC; so closely, Indeed, the Mr Lambert could sit on the Council only with the BC's condition. He also told Murray immeasurably knowledge and consent,
that Lambert had given up his Indignation. Lady Levita, Sir Cecil's home on more than one that wife, also sat on the Council, occasion in fear of "the evil and was well acquainted with eye." Mr Lambert, with whom was on excellent terms,
While speaking, Sir Cecil was sald to have tapped his forehead significantly to em phasise
Mr Lambert's mental
A still more surprising fact notice was brought to Mr. Lambert's
Supposing, in addition to that, during the preparation he said: "He has moved his of the
•fact which home several times because of increased his
pursuits by the evil eye," what He was informed would you understand by that? SL
Cecil Levita had I should say it was a most
threat to carried out his
fantastic statement. communicate the #londers To
What I will ask you again, she Sir Cecil also criticised Mr Mr Norman and Sir Stephen would you understand by that?
Lambert's use of money belong. Tallents, two influential mem-
-I should not believe him. ing to the Inslifute, even sug- bers of the BBC.
Two incidents gesting that some part of the
For some reasons Mr Lam- bert had incurred the animosity of
Q
£100 subscribed by Price had been used by Lambert on his own holiday.
was
incensed
I will ask you a third time. Mr. Lambert was shown a What would you understand by he was supersti- memorandum, prepared by one that?That of them, to the effect that it tipus.
in his action Mr Lambert pers sted
against Levita, his pros- pects with the BBC would be greatly prejudiced.
Sir Ceell had endeavourco
balance.
the And if, while speaking, certain people in the film ably the only way to get Lam- He ended by saying that prob.
tapped his forehead speaker trade who asked the BBC to bert от tho
signiflenntly?-I have already Council Was
to said that occording
Mr Mr withdraw their consent to
to get BBC to withdraw Lambert's continued presence their consent, and that he,
Murray
What would you understand on the Council. In consequence Levita, would have to inform to bring about that result the Lady Levita suggested that Mr R. C. Norman, the chair- gravity of the situation could not him to mean? Do face it. That wab lacking in mental Mr Lambert should consult man of the BBC.
be exaggerated; but Mr Lambert ho her husband.
Mr Lambert, not unnaturally, could not prove it. The memo
bo used could not
That he was cracked?-Yes. randum gir
Levita was Cecil
by these sug-inst Sir Cecil as gentleman
ne was But I did not do these things. and of considerable in gestions,
Immediately
At the date of this lunch did Auence having been chairman of wro e to Sir Cecil, giving the not a party to it, and unless
allegation to you honestly believe that Mr substance of what Mr Murray he admitted the the London County Colinell, and
cross-examination, the matter Lambert was out of his mind?- he warmly supported Mr Lam- had told him, and demanding an
could not be pursued. Every- No. Nor did I say it. bert's cause. He arranged a apology and nothing more.
thing must depend on his Junchron appointment with a Mr Gladstone Murray, Mr Lam- bert's immediate superior, and urged that it would be nothing short of a calamity if the BBC withdrew their consent to Mr Lambert remaining on the Film Council,
An apology
and
It is perhaps End of defence
evidence, not surprising that Mr Lam- bert awaited the hearing with some anxiety.
It was on eminently rea. sonable request. If Mr Murry had
reported accurately
the The action was tried before conversation, at apology was Mr. Justice Swift and a special the last Sir Cecil could have jury. In a letter of thanks to Sir done to
make amends; if the Mr Gladstone Crell, Mr Lambert expressed
was caused report
by some
proved the words his gratitude by stating: "But misunderstanding, why in the have been spoken for your weighty intervention world was not the mistake Sir
Cecil Levita significant manner
I should have had to send in my resignation."
corrected?
Murray uileged to to him by
Did you believe that Mr Lam- bert was no longer fit to be a Governor of the Film Institute?
No. Nor did I say it
Have you ever honestly bo- lleved it? No.
So that if you did in fact say to Mr Murray, you were say
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The judge asked that ques- he had tapped his forehead tion himself at the trial. "Why."
and he was
while speaking,
tions.
3
That was an end of any de- fence there might be under claim of privilege, but there remained the far more lapor- tant question of the memoran dum prepared by the BBC.
Highly strung Unless Sir Ceell Levita knew of
Not long afterwards two in- eldents occurred which played he asked Lev'ta, "didn't You not shaken in cross-examina- an important part in the sub- ask thete two gentlemen to sequent trial. Mr Lambert was meet you at another lunch and acquainted with a M Harry any! I never said these things Price, Secretary of the Lom and, of course, I never meant don Council for Psychloul Re- them'" zearch, who had been told strange story by a farmer in the Isle of Man, who claimed to have received a visit from a remarkable mongoose.
Also sang According to the farmer this mongoose possessed the power only smoke speech; It not
of
Then
Mr Lambert
next questiond
Mr Murray has told us that
its axistence it could not be ured But nothing of the sort oc-
gave in evidence, and it was to ascer curred, Instead, Mr Lambent evidence. He was quite definite tain that fact that we had been received a
letter from a firm that there WILF no word of waiting. The of solicitors which made the truth in any of Sir Cecil's would decide. Position infinitely
worse and allegations; he did not believe became the subject of serious in the occult, nor in the Talk- you stated that if Mr Lambert comment at the trial
he had never did not cease to be a Governor Ing Mongoose: wrote: "Wo understand left any of his homes in com- of the Film Institute you would that the matters to which you sequence of "the evil eye" he had go and see Mr Norman of the
discussed to- never even Hved at Cobham, and BBC7-Yes, refer are being
Immediately on receiving Mr morrow by high officials of the it was quite untrue that he had British Broadcasting Corpora- ever spent any of Price's £100 Lambert's letter of complaint did you go and see Mr Norman ot his home?—Yes.
They
English but many foreign s
tion. and we suggest that the on himself. Hom,
to
nursery rhymes, and occasional-
also change itself into a cat.
The
of
About Mr Lambert?—Yes. Did you go to Mr Norman with a view to getting him to tell Mr Lambert that, I be brought an oction against you,
tongues varying from Flemish whole matter should walt over to Hindustani, and, not content
cross-examination until Bccomplishments taken place."
after the discussion has with these
Mr. Lambert did not carry the 好预想 Bccustomed
sing What in
the
world could such case much further; it consisted Q letter mean? How could Sir largely of an inquiry into the of the Talking ly burst into dance. It coul4 Cecil Levita's solicitors know peculiarities
that
high officials of the BBC Mongoose. From further Information were discussing the matter Counsel for Bir Cecil did not he would be dismissed? supplied, it appeared that this unless Sir Cecil himself had suggest that Lambert Was This question was enough to versatile mongoose
6 told his solicitors?
And how mad,
but that he was highly cause rustle from the re- |years old, and answered to the could the officials know any strung,
inconsistent and not porters' sents; notebooks were name of Jeft
thing about It unless Bir Cee well balanced, and based this reopened and penells poised; Not Kinnaturally these had told them?
suggestion on the allegation everybody waited for Sir Cecil's Deculiarities aroused
in-
that Lambert believed in the answer. of
mongoose and had told Sir Cecil of his bellež.
the
the Institube forest of Paychical Research. Mr Price decided to make a personal in- vestigation and paid a visit to
Writ issued
Any discussion on this ridicu-
Having regard to the grave lous animal was bound to arouse, the Isle of Man, takilig with importance subsequently at hilarity, in which the judgo took him as an Independent witness tathed to the letter, the date part, and up to this point the bis friend. Mr Lambert,
is or special interest. It was audience in court enjoyed them- *the vint Needles to day,
selves enormously. ore dated March 2-1938. Was gallefactory; no mongoose
few days inter Sir Cecil nréschied
Mr Lambert left the box with itself, and' such Himself wrote to Mr Lambert
bis evidence unshaken, and it Mr manifestations
occurred disputing the accuracy of 215
obvious that · feeling were related by Mr Price in a Murray's statements, but saying was
throughout the court Was Poole called The Haunting of that if he had repeated gossip strongly in his favour. Cashena Gap, to which Mt about Lambert he was
Mr
When Sir Cecil Levits gave Lambert added three chapters quite
prepared to apologise.
nt speculation on how the As an expression either of ro- evidence, the atmosphere chang- fraud was perpetrated.
ret or withdrawal this letter ed from farce to drama. He was
Answer
final
He denied the suggestion with indignation. He had пеуст heard such a suggerilon before. And his answer was final. Το my intense disappointment the memorandum could not be used. it the defence bad And,
not made what I have always con- sidered to be a grave mistako. it would never have been pro...“
duced in court..
They decided to call as a wit-
And there, but for the sub was considered quite unsatis not a particularly impressive news a Mr Fuller, who was also sequent 'slander action, the metory, and a writ, for alandar witness, a good deal of his on the Film Coubell, and whom matter might well have passed was issued..
evidence appeared to me irro was overjoyed to see, because into oblivion.
lovant, and his account of his he had acted as an emissary be Sir Cecil's formal defence to
claim made against
him conversation with Mr Murray tween Sir Ceell Levita and the BBC I know it. H's cross-
and astounding, particularly was nowhat diffusa having regard to his quasi
course of the trial. He was apology.
Arst
́taken at once to the mattor I the
Next step
Ho spoken
M Price into the funds of the allegations
Evil eye
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examination changed the whole BOYS AND GIRLS' CLUBS ASSOCIATION
was so anxious to establish
quite well in health? Yes.
The only other incident of that he had not Importance was connected with words complained of; secondly
Do you know, the welt in this a subscription of £100 pala by that if he had the words retro He denied that he used most action is dated March 57-Yes.
and, lastly that of the words in the alleged
On March 24 did you ask Mr British Film Institute, and a the
made against slander, he said the reference to Lambert to lunch? Yea holiday visit to Germany taken Mir Lambert wun-buty, k **the evil eye" was there, gossip,
IDIA Mr. Lambert appear to be by Mr Price and Mr Lambert To slapder a perron, max. OF and, while denying that he had together.
may not be a serious "dience, topped his forehead, he appears
Between these dates had you The next step in the unfor and opp for which a complete of anxious to explain a possible #cen Slr Stophen Talents of the
BROT tunate story was the strange apology may be a suncient misunderstanding by nont
between
Lamberi amend, mit
to pefaist in a that he suffered from pains in
Dla you go to Sir. Stephen and the Levitas. The castee was serious slander to the extent of the head.
Tallents to try and effect a nevormado quito clear. but maintaining It the winds ndoubtedly serious difference wars can by Fort Pacto particularly denied the settlement of the action? Fes Important aliogation against hum Were you acting as an erofé» of opinion Brown / between frue, furparwDES EDEX, DE A Comas that he had threatened to go to wry, from Lavisiiter. Lambert " and Lady, Levita paratively unimportant matter Me Noman; and also made, the t abpus, the va desir silly are interppe, of the atmork Braviky, somewhat curiousmoot (Oestiumyć da Pago 12)
Mr
MY
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Friday, 8th Dec. 1950 in the Grippa
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