THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1936.
A Four-word Idea Turned £60
Into a £200,000,000 Business
ROMANCE OF EDITOR JAILED
SIXPENNY STORES
By PETER EDEN
A HOPEFUL young man of 25, fresh from the
farm, stood near a table covered with red calico, piled with cheap odds and ends.
He dipped a brush in a pot of paint, wrote in large crude letters these words:
"ANY ARTICLE FIVE CENTS."
a £20,000,000 Those four words built business in Britain, an even larger one in the United States, bought a skyscraper to hold 10,000 workers-founded a commercial dynasty through- out the world that is probably worth £200,000,000.
For the young man with the paintpot was Frank Winfield Woolworth, and F. W. Woolworth and Co. Ltd. has just gladdened shareholders' hearts by announcing that all holders of 5s. Ordinary shares will be given free a new Ordinary share for every share they hold.
on
So the vast company which at the start of this year paid a dividend of 100 per cent. Ordinary shares has, with une stroke, doubled shareholders' capital in the firm.
The spread of Woolworth's iden has had its sequel in stories of romance, adventure and big business in our own day.
Though the ex-farm hand who' sunk his entire capital of £60 into his first "five and ten cent store" at Utica never dreamed that one day his wealth would make possible the world-wander- Countess ings of the beautiful Haugwitz-Reventlow, who hasi just bought a stately mansion
in London, and the adventures of
Phil Riley, editor of the Oakland "Riley's Free Press," says he will enery his Bght against a contempt of court verdiet in the. US. Supreme Court. He was sentenced to live days in jail and fined $500 as an outgrowth of editorial eritle- ism of a grand jury,
SUSPECT
BOTH
Jimmy Donahue, the young Taxicab Tragedy millionaire who backed the ill-
fated "Transatlantic Rhythm."
WANTED A SON
Frank Woolworth, while he strug- gled to build his early stores, met and married Jennie Creighton. He deeply desired a son to carry on the business, but instead three daughters were born: Helena, Jessie and Fann. By the time he was 60 he was a millionaire.
Peer Is
Falsely Accused
Woman in
Tragedy of Shot Captain
TRAGEDY has ended the brilliant career
RADIO BROADCAST
Proclamation of King George VI Coronation
ARSENAL V. CHELSEA
metres (845 k.c.'s), 31.49 metres (9.52
of Captain Geoffrey S. Fleetwood Nash, Radio Programme Broadcast by aged 53, a retired naval officer, who was z. B. W. on a wavelength of 355 found shot dead in his flat in Lexham-megacycles). gardens, Kensington, S.W., with a Service!
rifle propped between his knees.
It is understood that the police are seeking assistance from a woman with whom Captain Nash, who was a bachelor, had been friendly for some time. It is believed that she will be able to give valuable information concerning recent events in his life.
A
woman culted at the flat previously, but was told by Captala Nash's elderly German servant, Paulein Marte Seber, that he had gone out in his car. The woman did not stay, and Captain Nash returned anon after midday.
It is understood that Captain Nash wrote a letter shortly before his death.
12.30 p.m. Cinema Organ Music. 12.50 p.m. Three songs by Leslie Hutchinson.
1 p.m. Time and Weather.
1.03 p.m. A light orchestral con- cert.
1.30 pm Reuler Press. Rugby Press: Weather, Rubber quotations, Time.
1.40 p.m.
New.
c
Dance Hits-Old and
2.15 p.m. Close Down. 4-7 p.m. Chinese Programme.
p.ut.
The Orchestre Raymondle. 7.30 p.m. Exchange Market Re-
port,
7,33 p.m. Ninon Vallin (soprano)
A neighbour said: "During the Inst few and Maurice Marechal (violoncello).
8. p.m. Time, Weather, and an-
days Captain Nash has seened a very man, and I thought that he must have had something very seriousnouncements. on his mind."
the war he commanded the destroyers During Llewellyn and Radiant. He was transferred to the Admiralty Intelligence Department, and was awarded the D.S.O. in 1918.
Captain Nash's 'grent knowledge of German led to his being appointed in 1920 to the Naval Inter-Allied Commission of Control in Berlin. In 1020 he was op- pointed Naval Attache in Berlin,
FOR GAVE
FORTNIGHT,
UP JOBS
A YOUNG married couple, who were suspected of
the murder of Mrs. Ada Fortescue, of Roseford Gardens, Shepherd's Bush, recently told the story of their ordeal during the two weeks they were shadowed and questioned by the police..
The couple are Mr. Kenneth Francis, aged thirty, a motor
driver, and Lillian, his 24-year Requiem
Told wife. At their home,' close
to Hammersmith Broadway Mass Set
they described the extraordinary In the United States and Canada he controlled 800 stores and the
ORD DE CLIFFORD, 28-sequence of circumstances that idea had spread to Great Britain, where 60 of his red-and-gold year-old motor-racer, found caused them to be suspect, fronted sixpenny stores had opened. not guilty in the House of Lords His daughter Edna married Brisk lust. December on a charge of -young-stockbroker named Franklyn Hutton. The son-in-law declined to manslaughter, has-consulted his enter Woolworth's "business; stock- legal advisers to put a stop to a broking suited him well enough. He story circulating in the West
probably missed a fortune.
LEFT £9,000,000.
When Woolworth died he left his fortune of £9,000,000 to his wife. When she died it was found that the Woolworth millions had been left to three people:
One third in Jensie Woolworth Donahoe.
One third to Helena Woolworth McCann.
One
third to Barbara Hutton, daughter of Franklyn Hution. When she was 13 Barbara startled Wall Street by selling 50,000 of her shares at £2,000,000. When she 10 she was allowed £15,000 a year.
At 21, she came into her, inherit ance, and ever since then her wealth I said to have increased at the
fantastle rate of £400,000 a year. But it brought her trouble. Once she exclaimed fervently: "To give the pubtle something to
about besides my fortune-that would be heavenly!”
Now al last she is happily married;
to Count Haugwitz-Reventlow. And
End.
He said:
" tm.o worried about a story that I have killed a taxients driver in another car smash. The driver died after an accident at the Bond St-Bruton St. corner on Wednesday, "When the aceldent happened I was asleep in bed,"
AL
Negligence Verdict
Josephi
Each day during the Old Bailey trini of Mrs. Fortescue's assailants Mr. Francis and his wife expected to be cuffel.
To Music
Vatican City, Dec. 18.
8.03 p.m. A Variety Programme. 9 p.m. News and announcements. 9,20
The Second Cricket Dim. Test Match: Australia v. England. An account of the second day's play by (Elec- Alan Kippax, from Sydney. trient recording).
9.35 p.m. Popular Tunes of 1933 and 1934.
10 p.m. Big Ben, Dance Music from Hongkong Hotel,
10.23 p.m. The Proclamation of His Majesty, King George VI, from Saint James's Palace, London.
10.45 pm. Car
Carroli
the Savoy Hotel Orphens,
Gibbons and
A
11.13 p.m. Arsenal y. Chelsea.
running commentary from the Ar- senal Football Ground, Highbury.
12.15 a.m. Close Down.
SUNDAY'S BROADCAST
10.11. Church.
Service from St. Joseph's
11 m. Cathedral.
12.15-2,30 p.m. European music, 12.15 p.m. Essie Ackland (con. fralto) with the London Symphony Orchestra.
Service from St. John's
1 p.m. Time and Weather. 1.03 p.m. Prelude, Chorale and Fugue (Cesur Franek) played by Alfred Cortot (pianoforte).
1.20 p.m. The B. B. C. Wireless Singers.
1.30
p.m. Reuter Press, Rugby Press, Weather, Time.
1.40 p.m. Quartet in F Major, K.500 (Mozart) played by the
A requiem mass set to music in Budapest.String Quartet. only seven hours is the remarkable
2.05 p.m. The New Light Sym- phony Orchestra.
2.30 p.m. Close Dawn. 4-0.25 p.m.. Chinese Programme. 6.25-10.30 p.m. European. Pro- gramme.
tenced to death for the murder of Perasi, the celebrated composer of "When Alfred Stratford was sen- feat performed by Monsignor Legrenz;
Mrs. Fortescue, and Mary Flynn, his
sacred music, especially oratories, accomplice, to eight years' penal servitude for manslaughter, we knew and perpetual of the papal chair.
The new plece, based solely on vice from St. John's Cathedral.
0.25 p.m. Bells and Evening Ser- our Innocence was established," said
chanting with no organ accompanl-. Mrs. Francis.
7.45 p.m. Eight Russian Folk
"We both have endured a night-ment, was executed for the first time Dances (Lindow)......by Leopold marc. I was a waitress in a West in the occasion of the memorial ser- Stokowski and the Philadelphia Or- London restaurant when this hap-vice of the cardinals who had died
eliestra. pened. I had to give it up.
during the year, which was held in "Ken had to give up his job, too. the Sixtine chapel in the presence of
the Pope on November 5.
Now we are both out of work."
8 Hours At Station
Sulle No. 2 for Two
8 p.m. Time and Weather. Planos, Op. 17 (Rachmaninoff)..
8.03 0.03 p.m.
played by Vronsky and. Babin.
8.25 p.m. The composition was hailed as a
The Regimental Band of masterpiece, worthy of Perosi's ge- H. M. Grenadier Guards.
Majesty, King George VI, from Saint James's Palace, London, (Electrical Recording),
9 p.m. Reuter News..
the Westminster inquest
driver, on the taxicab Fisher, aged 28, of Groombridge St., Hackney, the jury returned a ver- Here Mr. Francis took up the story, nius. The composer, however, was 8.40 p.m. The Proclamation of His diet that his death was due to negli-He said: "Ouly a day or two after of different opinion. On receiving, gence, but not gross and culpable | Mrs. Fortescue had been found mur-congratulations from the cardinals, negligence, on the part of Alastair dered in the basement dat at Rose- prelates and diplomats who had at Graham Stewart, aged 21, a stock- fard Gardens the police asked me to tended the service, Perosi replied: broker, of Little Kimble, Bucks. call at Hammersmith Police Station. The whole piece is Gregorian music. I did not know what it was all St. Gregory is the author of It My about. I told Lilian not to worry, I work was simply limited to "har-| would not be long.
monization". I only did a school pense".
Innocent, But
Took Blame
their baby boy, Lance, is probably For 35 Years
the richest baby in the world.
SOARING PROFITS
Jimmy Donahue
at 23 Is
▶RIG-GENERAL the BR
"She went to the, pletures... arrived at the station at 7.30 in the evening. They kept me there untli 3.30 next morning.
"I was told to give an account of all my actions on the day of the murder.
"Meanwhile my wife returned Hon. home from the cinema and was met
The Stars-by
Sir Ian Hamilton
Robert White, "Bobby by police officers. They took her ed the film stars in a speech at Glas-
millionaire who owes his money to White" of the Jameson Raid, to the police station, too.
the fortune made by chain stores.
Even more exelting than the adventures of the Woolworth heirs has been the rise of the Woolworth business In Britain.
In 1031 there were 440 stores in Britain. Next year the number climbed to 400. In 1935 there were 037-and they are still being opened. Millions of money flowed into the firm which now handles 85 per cent. British goods.
W. L
With a sound man, Mr. Stephenson, as chairman and manat ing director, the profits of the British Arm-which is now, separately" or-. ganised from the American equiva- lent rose steadily.
They were nearly 23,000,000 In 1928. Last year they touched the staggering figure of £5,298,- 401.
were
The total assels on the balance sheat at the stort of 1930
EID,000,000. There were 837 stores open.
The Ordinary 5s. shares last year touched 116s
While in the United States there are five times as many "Ave and tens" as in this country.
The pet idea of a farm hand has grown Into a Colossus of Finance.
died at Hove, Sussex, recently, agel 75.
At the time of the Jameson Raid In 1895 Brig-General White was young soldier serving as a chief staf officer to Sir John Willoughby.
Jameson's force surrendered at Doornkop to the Boers, and he and his officers were handed over to the British Governinent. They were tried in London under the Foreign Enlistment Act in May 1850. The Hon. Robert White was sentenced to seven months' imprisonment.
His Friend's Action
It was not until January 1931 that It was discovered that he had for 35 years accepted in silence the blame for the action of a friend.
A despatch box bearing the name of the Hon. Robert White was found by the Boers in the possession of Jameson's force.
"She was naked to make
$
General Sir Ian Hamilton review-
gow. This is what he said of them. Gracie Fields: Were I the Arch-
0.10 p.m. Overture-"Ruins of Athens" (Beethoven) played by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, con- ducted by Arnold Rose.
9.15 p.m. A
Programme of Christmas Music.
Soprano....Eva Turner; Contratto Helen Lockhart: Tenor....Edgar Warner: Baritone....Victor Sanders: At the piano....Lindsay A. Lafford. 10 p.m. Big Ben. The London Palladium Orchestra.
10.30 p.m. Close Down.
GOVERNOR RESTING
statement, and it was in the early bishop of Canterbury and the Poet RETIRE TO FANLING LODGE
one could
FOR WEEK'S STAY
hours when they allowed her to Laureate rolled Into leave.
hardly do justice to that angel. "It seems that we were suspected because
Elisabeth Bergner wil nibble a we had lived for eight
It is officially slated from Govern- in Mrs. Fortescue's house: hole in your heart, as a mouse nibbles; ment House that His Excellency the months That was shortly after we
u cheese if you don't watch her. Governor. Sir Andrew Caldecott, on married a year ago,
Madeline Carroll has a real. per- the advice of his medical advisers, la sonul distinction which makes itself cancelling all his social engagements until December 24, Inclusive, and will be in residence at Fanling Lodge.
were
'Shadowed Everywhere'. | tel.
"We left there only "eleven days| before the murder, Mrs. Fortescue was a good sort.
"For the next two weeks after her death all kinds of police in- We
•quiries were made about us were abadowed everywhere. "Night
after night my wife cried herself to sleep.
"She was formented by the looks of suspicion, that followed us even when we went shopping.
Canada Seeks Air
Orders From Britain
·New York, Dec. 18.
A move to enter the market for aircraft orders from Britain is seen in
the announcement that, the fleet of "Friends we had known for years | Canada Limited, subsidiary of Con- cut us dead. Once or twice I heard solidated Aircraft, Corporation, an In it were documents telling the remarks from people in the streets. American company, is to be sold to Inner history of the projected "Then the police came round ong Johannesburg rising, and giving the day- good fortnight fater--and Canadian interests. names of the persons concerned. told us we were no longer, under It is proposed to expand the plant. Every one at the time thought that suspicion. the man whose name the box bore "When at last our Innocence was to five times its present size and to was responsible for aiding such established by the jury's, verdict my obtain £100,000 of additional work- dangerous evidence into acilon. wife nearly collapsed.
Wing capital.➡Reuter." -
-
The Private Secretary of His Ex- cellency stated yesterday that Sir Andrew is not strictly speaking II. and is suffering from no specific complaint. He is, however, in a run- down condition and, though 'not confined to bed, is resting at Fanling.
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Telephone" 20636,