1930-07-29 — Page 7

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, TUESDAY, JULY 29, 1930.

DICKETTS' MANY A MAN OF MANY

GREAT AVALANCHE OF MUD.

BLOWS AT THE DERBY.

TEN MILES UP IN A BALLOON.

VICTIMS.

SUMMONS AGAINST SIR BASIL CLARKE,

BIG ASCENT TO BE MADE THIS SUMMER.

MARRIED AND LEFT A GIRL OF 15.

FORESTS WIPED OUT IN SWITZERLAND.

MOTORISTS TRAPPED.

BELGIAN PROJECT.

TRICKSTER'S CAREER.

SECRETS.

DEPUTY SECRETARY TO THE CABINET.

f.

PREMIER'S GUIDE.

In a book-lined room, overlooking the tree tops of Belsize Park, N.W. (writes a New Chronicle reporter), 1 talked with the Mystery Man of Whitehall--the man of a thousand secrets.

To the public his name--it is Mr. Thomas Jones--is unknown, yel, as Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet and Secretary of the Economic Ad- visory Council, he has for the past power behind the scenes of Govern- 14 yeara wielded a tremendous

As the guide, philosopher and Ministers his has been the hidden friend of four successive Prime

hand behind scores of Cabinet de- cisions. His influence, it is whis- pored, put the Seven Hours Act on the Statute Book and went a long way to secure the Trish Settlement.. And now that he" is about to re- Then he went to Market Har-tire upon reaching his 60th birth- borough and posed as Captain day. Mr. Jones wishes to pack all Lathom, saying he had taken a his secrets into his portfolle and hunting box at The Briars, East maintain his silence. Farndon. In this guise he called at a bank, said he had £500 at the bank's Piccadilly branch, and asked for it to be transferred. He thus obtained a cheque book, and with this defrauded a number of local tradesmen...

CASE DISMISSED. Epsom police court was crowd. M. Piccard, Professor at Brussels The trickster who posed at A great avalanche of rocks.and mud swept down from the Dent dued when Major Victor Beaufort, University, has given details of a Southend as earning £1,200 a year, Midi, a mountain 10,500ft. high, of the Goring Hotel, Ebary-street, remarkable experiment which he and married a girl of 15 after on the frontier between the Swiss London, B.W., summoned Sir Basil will attempt towards the end of the doluding her father about his

Clarke, of Cadogan-gardens, Chal- summer.

position, canton of Valais and France.

was sentenced to 12 It wiped out forests and vineen, for alleged assault.

M. Piccard has designed a new months' hard labour at Maryle yards in theighbourhood of Mr. Ben Thomas (prosecuting) kind of bulloon with which he ex-bone, Saint-Maurice, on the Rhone, 14 said the case, arose out of an in-pects to reach a height of 16,000 Prisoner was Walter Arthur miles south-east

of the lake of eldent on the top of a St. Dunsmetres, about 62.000 feet (or ten Charles Dicketts, 30, Six charges

The highest altitude of fraud were proved. Geneva, and covered the valley for tan's omnibus at the Derby. Majer miles). hundreds of yards under a layer Beaufort took up his position be hitherto attained by a balloon with Counsel said the Southend case tween the two front seats to a passenger is 32,940 feet by the occurred in April, 1929, while of rocks and mud 15ft, deep.

Following the track of the watch tho race, and Admiral Sir Germans Suring and Derson in

Dickotts

living with his ment. Was Henry Bruce and a woman wore 1901. similar fall in 1926, the torrent on his left, and behind them were

parents-highly respectable people roared its way across the main Sir Basil Clarke and Lady Clarke. now nearing completion, will be Miss Wood, who was understood to

M. Plecard's balloon, which is at Leigh-on-Sea. He courted road, which it covered for more Admiral Bruce complained that he fitted with an envelope very much be under 16, and told her father he than a quarter of a mile before could not see the race with Majer larger than those used for ordinary was manager to the Gladstone Cor- crashing down or to the railway Beaufort standing is, the postfon balloons. It will have line from Lausanne to Brigue and he was occupying.

a capacity poration of New Yoric and earned of 14,000 cubic metres (about 1.200 a year. Dicketts married the Simplon tunnel, part of the

Major Beaufort, he said, asked 400,000 cubic feet) as compared the girl but in a short time left route followed by the famous in- ternational train, the Simplon-maller man to stand in front with 2.000 cubic metres, (about 30,- her.

of him, and when the race finish 000 cubic feet) of the Gordon Ben- Orient Express,

ed there was some doubt ng to nett balloons, but owing to the which of the Aga Khan's horses expansion of gas with the increase had won, and for the general in in altitude only one-seventh of the formation of those on the bus bags will be filled with hydrogen Major Beaufort stood with one foot on the left seal and one on the right to see the number.

The basket is of curious design. Whether he fell or whether Ad-It consists of an aluminium sphere miral Bruce pushed him inadver with a diameter of two metres, with tently or not, he said, Major Beau two manholes and nine port holes. fort fell forward and asked Ad- Aluminium has been chosen be miral Bruce what he thought he cause it offers a great resistance was doing. Before he could re to low pressure. The interior of cover Sir Basil Clarke dealt him the cabin will be furnished with

blow which cut the inside of his scientific instruments. mouth and blackened his eye.

Sir Basil followed it up, gaid The ascent will take place at attempting to Augsburg in Germany where the Mr. Thomas, by

being made. From this throw Major Beaufort off the 'bus envelope coming at him with raised knee spot there is little chance of the as if to kick him in the stomach, balloon drifting towards the sea. Major Beaufort,

This line, the only one in South era Switzerland connecting France with Italy and East Europe, known to thousands of British travellers.

All means of communication be tween Upper and Lower Valais were cut, and

urgent messages were sent to Brigue and Lausanne to divert all international trains via the Latchberg route farther east.

Tourists Dilemma. Tourists caught at Martigny, eight miles south of Saint-Maurice, had to make a long detour in the night via Berne to get to Luusaune and Geneva, and special trains travellers to their took other destinations by roundabout routes. Scores of motor-ears, trapped on either side of the obstruction, are having to remain where they are until the road is cleared or make long roundabout journeys. Even communication by foot is im. possible.

At one time it was feared that the River Rhone might again be forced out of its bed, as happened four years ago, and the inhabitants of the resort of Lavey-les-Bains, near Saint-Maurice, were on the

alert all night, but as the river is now very swollen the debris which reached there was carried away as it fell.

The Avalanche is supposed to have been caused by the bursting

of a water-pocket on the Dent du

abnormal rains.

Midi glacier due to the recent

MORNING SCENE AT "HOLY WELL."

SUPERSTITIOUS FARMER AND

WOMAN.

Aluminium Basket,

"A Plausible swindler."

in the Tank Corps, and in 1917 re A detective said Dicketts served

ceived a temporary commission în the R.A.F. After a conviction in 1921 he was deprived of permission to retain his Army rank.

He went into business as an im- porter and exporter, and lost all he in self-defence, M. Piccard states that he ex-had in the trade slump, He had pects it to take him one hour to also done fire stunting at Elstree Cricklewood, had been a reach 12,700 feet. He will remain and there for about a half an hour and publicity agent in France, Greece, make scientific observations. Bal- and the Near East, and had acted last will then be discharged to reach as secretary to a gentleman on

Mexican ranch. an altitude of 52,000 feet.

took Sir Basil's head under his arms and held him "in chancery" till he saw there was no more fight left in him.

Mr. Thomas said he could only describe it as ruffianly conduct on the part of Sir Basil Clarke.

"A. Terrific Blow,"

Major Beaufort gave evidence and said that he stood six feet and was 40 Inches round the chest.

He and his wife and stepson, he

"I do not pretend to beat any sporting record" the Professor, states. "What I wish is to carry out scientife experiments."

Dicketts was bound over at Chesterfield in 1921 for fraud; sen tenced to nine months at the Cen- tral Criminal Court the same year for forgery and false pretences: again bound over in 1923 for faud; Mr. Maurice Elvey, president of sentenced to four months in France continued, attended the Derby in the British Film Directors Asso- for swindling; and again sentenced

St. Dunstan's omnibus. Before ciation, has been refused permis- to nine months

at the Central the Derby a young woman who sion to film scenes for the British Criminal Court in 1925 for fraud. had been standing in front of the

The officer added: "We regard talkic, "The School for Scandal," omnibus left and he took her post in the Inner Temple. An under-him as a very clever and plausible tion. Admiral Bruce, who, with taking was given to complete the swindler."

woman, occupied the front seats filming early in the morning in

Dicketts was told that other of the omnibus, told him to get order to avoid possible congestion offences of his had been taken into out of the way, and he replied of traffic. Mr. R. Robinson, the consideration, and if he behaved in that he was not in his way.

This Man of Mystery shuddered when he saw me, for he has never before been interviewed.

Then, locking round to see that we were unobserved, ho handed me. five-line typewritten statement announcing in formal terms his forthcoming retirement.

"But tell me something about Whitehall" I pleaded. everything but may say nothing."

"Hush," he whispered. "I know

He hesitated, and added: . "I have been privileged to be the con- fidant of Mr. Lloyd George. Mr. Bonar Law, Mr. Baldwin and Mr. MacDonald, but my lips must be | sealed for ever. Had I talked I should have been sacked long ago- silence alone has saved me"

This little grey-haired man with the kindly eyes who knows a much of the secret history of Downing- street, smiled when I asked whether he would publish his reminiscences.

"I have already been approached by several publishers," he said, "but money will not buy what is not mine to sell.

"I may write all I know but it will never see the light of day while I or any of the people con- cerned are alive. If I write any thing it will be a footnote for his- tory which I shall leave probably to the Museum of Wales.

Describing the blow he receiv. sub-treasurer of the Inner Temple,prison he would.. be out in about short when I was 13," explained

in a letter to Mr. Elvey, wrote nine months.

ed, he said he was just disentan "Permission to film scenes in the ling his glasses from the railings Inner Temple cannot be granted in the front of the omnibus when owing to the inconvenience that from somewhere he received a terrific blow on the right side ef may be caused to members and

tenants of the Inn," the face, which knocked him backwards into the position from which he had just extricated him. self.

complainant's general bearing and behaviour.

one has

"Shall I?" he asked eagerly.

you must go straight after this."

"Yes," said the magistrate; "but Dicketts: There is no question

about that.

After taking a holiday in Am- erica, Mr. Jones will devote himself to his two hobbies the fostering of adult education and the publica- tion of beautiful books.

"You see, my education was cut

Mr. Jones, "Starting at a salary of 9. a week, I worked for six years as time-keeper and clerk in the Rhymney Iron Works, and it was only by facilities, for adult education that I made good.

"I want other working boys and men to have the same charice as 1 had. That is why I founded the Harlech Residential College in Wales, where miners, quarrymen

The Guildford Diocesan Board An early morning scene at a The blow blackened his eye,

of Finance has authorised a com- "holy well" at Cashel resulted in caused the right side of his face What was the object of the secmittee to act in raising the neces- an action at the Circuit Court at to swell as though he had had ond blow?-He turned towards sary funds and in preparing a and steelworkers study economics, Tipperary.

toothache very badly, cut the in me and was about to strike me, 80 scheme which will allow of a literature and political science. Mrs. Bridget Egan, aged 56, the side of his chin against his teeth, I hit him in self-defence. You see suitable residence being formed The tragedy of Mr. Thonias wife of a farmer, who claimed and cut the right side of his lip he was much bigger than I, and within Farnham Castle for the Jones's life was two years ago $100 damages from Mr. Daniel and binckened it.

be quick if one is to be Bishop of the diocese a residence when his brilliant 12-year-old son, Devilt, aged 30, a garage pro- His standing in the gangway any good at all with a man like in which he would be able to live Elphin Lloyd Jones, was kiled in prietor, said that she went to the did not obstruct the view of the that. well just before dawn. She had other passengers. He

within the limits of his statutory a street accident. WAB not Cross-examined, he denied that

income. The scheme is intended To the boy's memory Mr. Jones's been suffering from an ailment, asked if he would go to his own he went at Major Beaufort and also to provide that the remaining many friends in Whitehall raised and went to pray, at the well and seat. He was given a peremptory tried to pull his ear off, and that drink its waters to get cured. She order to do so by Admiral Bruce. Major Beaufort had to have it portions of the Castle shall be 4 memorial fund to enable strug- used as a Diocesan House. The glin students whose education has had done so in the two previous When the conductar was called he dressed.

said that he (Major Beaufort) had

was dismissed, success of the scheme depends on been interrupted to continue their years.

a perfect right to stand there. and the Bench made no order as the financial support forthcoming studies, and the firet schoalrships

in the meanwhile:

She had heard her mother say that it was a holy well, and that E0 years ago her grandfather went to the well before sunrise on the first morning in May for three

The summons

It was not true that when he to costs. was recovering himself he clench- ed his fists as if to strike Admirat Bruce

years in succession, and prayed Mr. Fox-Andrews: If your a and drank the water and his trou-titude then was the same as it in

ble had disappeared.

Mrs. Egan said that on that morning she and a woman friend recited the rosary while walking round the well, and, after drink- ing a cupful of the water, were about to resume their walk and recite a second rosary when Mr. Devitt caught hold of her, broke the beads, and said, "Now the spell is broken,"

Mr. Devill denied the allegations, He said that seeing the women at the well, which was a public one, at 2.55 a.m. he ordered them away.

in the witness-box would you be surprised if it was thought to be offensive?-Naturally.

"Did not Regret It."

Mr. Fox-Andrews, defending, said that under the impression that Major Beaufort was about to strike Admiral Bruce, Sir Bas!! was of the opinion that it was his duty as a man and in law to pre- vent an unjustifiable assault. He did what any decent Englishman. would have done: he hit Major Beaufort and did not regret it.

He denied that his action was Sir Basil Clarke gave evidence

prompted by a desire to break an evil apell that Mrs. Egan had put on his family by her previous visita to the well.

that Major Beaufort obstructed the view and his answer to vari ous requests to sit down' was al- ways, "You shut up." When ask

The judge held that an assaulted, by the conductor to go to his

had been committed and awarded Mrs, Egan £1 10s.. and £3 costs.

seat he said, "I am going to stop here." Major Beaufort strode un in a manner which gave

every appearance that he was about to strike Admiral Bruce,

In the last few of the fifty or

"I stepped forward and gave more years he worked in the Na-him a blow with my left fist," he tural History Museum at South said. "He turned round on me, Kensington, Mr. Oldfield Thomas, and I gave him another with the the distinguished scientist, who right. Blows fell very quickly died last June, found the long both right and left" -flight of steps to his study an in- Earlier in the afternoon he had creasing trial. He hinted that a told Major Beaufort that, he was lift would be useful, but was told the Treasury had no money for it. When he died he left £1,200 in his will for the construction of a lift in the west central tower of the great building, and it was opened by Mr.. Lansbury, First Commis- #ioner of Works,

a dirty, mean fellow, as this con- duet had been going on for an hour and a half.

Counsel: What was your object In striking the first blow 7-It was undoubtedly to stop any further Admirzi, violence towards the which I looked for in view of the

SEMEA SERVICE DG. FAX

"Oh, that's a shame--and you would have been elected

if they bad counted the yotes fairly."

have been awarded recently.

CUP THAT JEERS— AT SCIENTISTS.

SUBATOMIC POWER SECRET REVEALED.

If scientists ever discover the key to subatomic energy it will be possible to carry in a teacup. a year's supply of fuel for a great generating station of any- thing up to 100,000 kilowatts capacity.

Professor A. S. Eddington, Plumian Professor of. Astronomy at Cambridge University and director of the observatory there,

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The energy existed in thing we handled, and the fuel in the teacup might be water or anything else that was handy. Some secret store of energy must be feeding the stars: otherwise they would have been dead and cold long since. It seemed plain. therefore, that the "cup of water" maintenance was in operation in the stars.

Professor Eddington estimated that in order to tap a large supply. of subatomic energy, matter would have to be heated up to a temperature of 40,000,000 degrees (Celalua), and if this was so, he added, the chances of making a commercial success of it were not very promising.

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