THE
HONGKONG
TELEGRAPH.
TUESDAY,
MARCH 9,
1937.
BARONESS: "JEW-HATE SPOILED MARRIAGE" "Seigneur Husband Had Told Her Jews Killed Czar And Czarina
"Welcomed Him
With Open Arms, But-
T
London, Feb. 11.
'ALKING at great speed, tho Baroness Victor de Stempel, twenty-eight-year-old wife of a Russian exilo, told the High Court
PLEA -CLAIM AND
BARON VICTOR DESTEMPEL, exiled Russian aristocrat, of Hallam-street, Portland-place, W., is the plaintiff in a stander action he has brought against-
MR. WALTER DUNKELS, director of the Diamond Corporation, which practically controls the diamond trade in this country. The baron married ne his second wife.
DAWN MARIE BEAUMONT, step-daughter of Mr. Walter Dunkels, and through Mr. Dunkels influence became employed by Dunkels and Co., of Holborn Viaduct, diamond brokers, carried on by Mr. Otto Dunkels, a cousin of the defendant.
There is also claim by Baron de Stempel for damages on an allegation that Mr. Walter Dunkels had mailelously procured his cousin to commit a breach of the baron's contract of employment. For Mr. Dunkels it is denied that the words complained of were defamatory, and privilege and justification are pleaded.
MR. NORMAN BIRKETT, K.C., and Mr. Gerald Gardiner áp- pear for the baron.
H
SIR PATRICK HASTINGS, K.C., and Mr. Valentine..11pimes represent Mr. Walter Dunkels.
This is really the situation, is it, he wished Mr. .Otto Dunkels 10
"
HE SAID THAT HE 'LOWERED HIMSELF' MAKING HER WIFE
#
yesterday how her hus-not-if for any reason you are not emphasise to Mr. Louis Oppenhelpecklet, then went into the witness; objection, and Mr. Justice Swift said,
It stated:
box.
She said she lived "However, blind you court, Chelsea, with her son.
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emphatically, that the court would at Cheyne- not go into the question of the mar-
The ried life.
: Baroness de Stempel declared that Sir Patrick Hastings: Are you very j she stuck to her husband right up to
the Franklins, about the baron's de devoted to tie inother? Natural the time when she heard, through "Tootals" Linen ly. She has always been a very
Lermination to get his good mother to me.
through the child."
band had made her mar- allowed to do business with the Dia mer.
It. is not much use mond Corporation, ried life unhappy by his being a diamond broker in this may be, I have equal rights with you boy was at present in Switzerland.
country, is it-There are a number in connection with our child and having been ill.
be consulted and have my dislike of the Jews.
of them, but they presumably don't must She said the baron used to do as well as those brokers who are opinion regarded if any decisions are
officially recognised by the Diamond to be taken. say: "Fancy me, a 'grand
Corporation seigneur, having to live with Jews."
11
In a word, to be a successful dio- mond broker it is essential to be allowed to deal with the Diamond Corporation?-Yes, most assuredly.
You yourself would not be willing to see your own business have a breach with the Diamond Corpora- I ton? It never occurred to me;
"I must have little Mishka with me a certain time of the year, and certainly he must come to me dur- Ing part of his school holidays.
"I insist on making a contribution. For the immediate future I must see Mishka more often,
"Assuming the journey to Hallam strect is tiring after his lessons, is
relations with the Diamond Corpora-i chey unripe
tion.
"I used to go out to meet him with welcoming arms,' said the baroness, "but he would push me back with the any to my calling at remark that I could not understand how he felt at having to work with Jews, "He would say," she con- tinued, “You can't expect me not to hate the Jews when the Jews were respon- sible for killing my Emperor and Empress."
about the alleged slan- If, however, relations with the der "Victor in a Jew-hater"-Mr. Dunkels sald: "The baron Diamond Corporation were broken Otto
your company is a man of culture and refinement off. it would affect adversely?--I cannot conceive of and much too well-mannered to ex- press his dislike for Jews, if he had such a thing happening.
There were occasions, she said, when she was going to her parents' house and the baron commented: "I won der who will be there to- night-all the Jerusalem of London, I suppose.".
Inconceivable though it may be,
what I am suggesting is correct, is it not?--If relations were broken off,
could not do business.
1
"In
my presence he never
ex-
any pressed any such dislike and was always very polite and pleasant in business when dealing with Jews or
Mr. Birkett: So for as you know, to say, "Victor is a Jew-hater" is a falsehood?
non-Jews." REGULAR VISITS The baron, Mr. Otto Dunkels said, pald regular vialls to the premises of the Diamond Corporation right up
to November 1935.
He did business with
Louls
in
And to your stepfather?-My step father has been itinder than words can express to me since I was ten years old, and to my child.
Her husband, she continued, con- life together, stantly, during their had expressed his attitude of mind. towards the Jews.
Jews were concerned with our social life and his business life, she said. "He frequently told me how he had come down in the world through having married me, and having to work and mix with Jews.
"The
“ALL JERUSALEM” "There were occasions when I was going to my parents' house, and he would say: 'I wonder who will be there tonight-all the Jerusalem of London, I supposel'
revenge
Questioned again about references to the Jews she said: "They caused me great unhappiness, but that isn't saying that there were not moments of happiness."
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She was dealing with the ques- tions about the baron's observations about Jews when there was laughter. and Mr. Justice Swift threatened to have the court cleared if there was WITH CONTRASTING PIPING any repetition of auch conduct.
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"People who come to hear canes must be quiet," he said. "They must not take part in the cases by indulg- ing in merriment or agreement or disagreement with what a witness says."
The baroness said that her hus- Jerusalem referred to "the band in London" In 1928 when they went to a a dinner party with her step-nunt. It was one of many similar remarks.
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Quite naturally her husband told LADIES' "TELEMAC” RAINCOATS her much about Russin and the Ro- volution."
Asked what specific references the baron had nnde to his having Mr. Otto Dunkels replied that It "lowered himself by marrying her," might be a plausible sintement to the baroness replied that he used to
Mr. Birkelt: "Did he say that eer- make reference to Russian say: "Fancy me, a 'grand seigneur,"
In aristocrat, but the baron had never having to live with Jews." He said tain Jews in Russia, who were Boi- given him any indication that he was that the Jews were enemies of allsheviks, caused the revolution?-I the aristocracy; they had killed the would try to take an impartial view Czar and Czarina.
about the Jews and say that Her husband, she added, told her couldn't make all Jews out to be
would say:
You that the Jews had been responsible can't expect me not to hate the Jews
wrong, and he for the revolution in Russin,
Under
cross-examination by Mr. when the Jews were responsible for
killing my Emperor and Empress." the baroness said
her answer,
Jew-hater.
"CHIEF ASSET"
Re-examined by Sir Patrick Has tings, Mr. Ofto Dunkels said:
originally,
"I
took Baron de Stempel into my office | Bused to go out to meet my hus-, 18 she gave
directors ather than Mr. Walter Dunkels, in- cluding Mr. Louis Oppenheimer, with whom his relations were friend- ly.
"Mr. Birkett: When Mr. Oppenheimer latervened, he did directly with you? Yes.
This was on about November 13, Mr. Otto Dunkels skel. The baroness was giving evi-
Asked what words were used, Mr. dence in the slander action Otto Dunkels replied that Mr. Op brought by her husband against penheimer said that he thought it
Mr.
Walter rather tactless of the baron to keep her stepfather.
on coming to the premises of the Dunkels.
Diamond Corporation. Before the hearing was re-
"He put it very mildly," said the sumed yesterday the parties left witness, "and, coming from Mr.
ad-Louls Oppenheimer, court with their legal
I felt I must do the
something about it." visers for a consultation.
Mr. Birkett: When Mr. Louis Op- After an absence of forty penheimer intervened did you say: minutes they returned to court
must do something"? Mr. Otto Dunkels:
1 tels," and Sir Patrick Hastings, K.C. (for the defenco), announced wanted to continue my resistance and that the case would have to told Mr. Oppenheimer that 1 would like him to hear the other proceed.
side, for which there was something to be said.
Mr. Oto Dunkels, cousin of Mr. Walter Dunkels, continuing his evi- dence, said he thought he was en- titled to get rid of the baron at the end of the year.
His
offer of compensation made on purely moral, and not on Jegal grounds.
was
FRIENDS 7 YEARS
Norman Cross-examined by Mr. Birkett, K.C. (for the baron), Mr. Olto Dunkels sald' he had been friend of Baron de Stempel for seven
sears.
#
bc-
Mr. Birkett: In most of the un- happy differences which arose tween the baron and Mr. Walter Dunkels and other people, did you take his side and sympathise with
him?
•
Because
"EQUAL RIGHTS".
not because of any
በር
the
band saying about e certain Jew that She said she remembered her hus it was unpleasant to have to do busi- ness with him.
business capacity he had at that time, band with welcoming arms, but he baroness struck herself on the cistit but simply and solely because he would say he was tired and pusit me with her clenched fists in dramatic "fashion to indicate the tenor of her brought something which I valued
husband's protestation. the support of Mr. Walter Dunkels, director of the Diamond Corporation, "Directly that support ceased, the baron lost his chief asset so far as I was concerned."
"What
Sir Patrick was that?" The support of Mr. Walter Dun-
was the reply.
Marjorie Florence Frankiln, Mr.
usked.
back with the remork that could not understand how he, an aristocrat, felt at having to work for Jews. These references to the Jews and to my people from the beginning made me very unhappy."
Mr. Birkett: you wrote your
But husband some very charming letters long after that? Yes.
--Yes.
"IT WAS A JOKE" "But that was the sleep-taking And you lived with him until 1933? chap," she added, "and it was treated I used to go out with him to as a lake. My husband mentioned
She agreed that her husband was
of New Cavendish-street, in evidence, theatres and to the Bat frequently aim in his sleep." said that in July 1933, she met the until 1933. baron-with whom she was quainted-in a chemist's shop and Invited him to her house.
ac-
Mr. Franklin joined them there and the baron made some observa The baron handed him a letter to tions about members of the Dunkels the baroness, Mr. Otto Dunkels con- family.. tinued, showing the desires of the The Baroness de Stempel, wearing baron in regard to the boy, which a black hat and costume, with a fur
Gresford Sensation
Grave Charges in the Report
Mr. Ottó Dunkels said he did on FIERCE controversy will be aroused in Parliament and
occasions. Did you say this kind of thing to
throughout the country by the sensational reports of
him: "You ought to assert yourself the three investigators of the Gresford Pit disaster, in more and not allow yourself to be trodden on"--No. I said: "Why which 265 men lost their lives.
don't you give Dawn a divorce? In
His answer to
child."
LOYALTY
at all times "Intensely devoted" to their child. It was on her sugges- tion that he saw the boy three times a week.
And all that time he had spoken disparagingly of your people and the it out of loyalty to my husband. I Jews? Yes, but I said nothing about stuck to him because I knew he had got to keep in business with people that who were Jews.
Recalled, Baron de Siempel denied witness dislike of Jews in general. that he had expressed to the last Sir Patrick Hastings submitted none of the alleged, slanders was capable of a defamatory mean-
So you don't agree with the baroning. when he says the opening years of} Replying, Mr.. Birkett contended your married life were happy? that it was, highly defamatory to The baroness was saying, in reply, suggest to an employer that he ought that she wished to qualify her to get rid of an employee, answer, when Sir Patrick raised an! The hearing was adjourned.
AIRMAN
SIGHTS
NEW LAND IN ANTRCTIC
When the long-awaited result of the inquiry was: England it is the gentleman's role to issued to M.P.s—more than two years after the disaster- do that sort of ould not do that. it was revealed that Sir Henry Walker (Chief Mines NEWS of the discovery of hitherto unknown land in the Antarctic was received in Oslo this month Mr. Otto Dunkeis agreed that in Inspector) and his two assessors, Mr. Joseph Jones (the 1933 it was suggested that the baron miners' president) and Mr. John Brass (Colliery by radio from Hr. Lars Christensen, the Norwegian
:that was;
would lose my
should be made a partner of the director), had been unable to agree~~~
firm. Mr. Walter Dunkels recom- mended that.
Agitation to get the baron dis- missed began in the spring of 1934 and became Intermittent afterwards. Up till November, 1935 he (Mr. Olto Dunkela) resisted that pressure.
plosion occurred;
lessness and open contempt for the dangers run."
explorer.
Where in the mine the ex-men to work with increasing reck- "The Norwegian flag plane," the message stated. The manager, he says, "appeared land has been mapped."
to allow the firemen and shot-rers
to do as they liked."
ONE SURVIVED
How it occurred; or Who was to blame for it. The Labour Party has already Mr. Birkett: Was the attitude that: the baron took this: "My domestic decided to demand a full-dresa life ought not to be brought into debate in the House of Com- After the explosion, when the mons. Mr. Attlee will ask the rescue parties were at work, a team of five men was sent (Mr. Jones explain." asked Mr. Jus Premier on Monday to allot a says) into a place by a deputy, not- tice Swift,
can you expat man domestic day, and the debate will prob withstanding the fact that within life can be kept out of business if ably take place the week after the person with whom he has to deal next.
business matters: Consistently so.
Mr. Olto
in business is his step-father-in-law,
and who has quarrelled with his wife?”
Mr. Otto Dunkels: It is difficult to
"IMMEDIATE ACTION”
six yards of the entrance the atmos- phere was tested by using a canary, which instantly dropped dead.
Only one of the five emerged
The deputy concerned.
alive. M.P.'s of all parties were saying explain, but that was the attitude of in the House of Commons lobbies
Max Baer's
Home Destroyed
Sacramento, March 1.
has been dropped from a "All of the newly-discovered
Hr. Viggo Wideroce, the Nor- wegian airman, who is assisting Hr. Christensen, was the pilot of the plane.
I
NEW MOUNTAIN RANGE He has discovered a range of mountains between the 95th and 40th degrees of longitude-cast, of the Greenwich meridian and about 80 degrees, south.
15 about
Was
zent
The highest peak 4,500 EL. A radio message out from the Norwegian whaler Thorshavn, In which, Hr. Christensen of exploration.
where he was living with the baron,
yesterday that the issues raised are brigade forward without "te the MAX BAER'S country house, Mr. Ollo Dunkels said that the of such grave public importance as and without a reserve brigade in his wife and his manager, Ancil effect of the solicitors' letter written to demand immediate action by the attendance. It is therefore difficult on behalf of the baran on Novem- Government.
to escape the conclusion that the Hoffman, has been destroyed by ber 6, 1035, regarding the question of Of the three reports, the most deputy was guilty of manslaughter." a mysterious fire, damage being now engaged in his fourth voyage
· HE KEPT OUT
Law That the initial mistake which led
to the explosion. was, the failure to carry out a big scheme of ventila- tion some years previously and
WHERE IT 13
access to his con, was brought to outspoken is that of Mr. Jones,
Sir Henry Walker's main conclu estimated at £8,000. bis notice two days later by Mr. whose charges are sumciently serious, slons are that much of the evidence Waller Dunkels,
- A ̈·đog'■ furious barking gave In the view of many M.P.'s to oblige tendered was unreliable;
-Ho discovered Bouvet Island and the alarm and enabled. the Princess Astrid Land. A great "Did he seem very Incensed by their consideration by the that?" Mr. Norman Birkett asked.
Officers of the Crown.
occupants to leave in safety.
stretch of the Antarctic aiready bears Mr. Jones, who says that before
They were playing cards at the his name. the explosion one part of the pit was
[The newly-found region is more veritablo "O
awaiting
That workmen and officials alike time and were forced to leave most bluntly accuses the manage had been responsible for breaking of their possesions behind in the then 2,400 miles south of Durban, South Africa, and almost mid-way "Yes, very much so," was the re- lenition, bundy Currant risks with the law with regard to shot-firing blaze,
between Coats and and Kalier ment Up till that time Mr. Louis Oppen- the knowledge of all concerned in and the eight-hour day.
Hoffman said that the flames broke Wilhelm II. Land. belmer (one of the directors of the order that the maximum tonnage of Mr. Brass's Buggestion is that a
spark from a telephone caused an out simultaneously in several parts of
the house Indicating incendiariam.. He finds that "Bremen drove their explosion of fredamp;
ply.
Diamond Corportation) had never coal could be got per day" fintervened at all?--Na
It lies only 200 miles. £ròm a point reached by Captain Cook in 1773.3
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