1937-03-09 — Page 15

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

But-'

Arms,

London, Feb. 11.

***ALKING at great speed, the

-CLAIM AND ́ ́PLEA-

BARON VICTOR DESTEMPEL, exlled Russian aristocrat, of Hallam-street, Portland-place, W., is the plaintiff in a slander action he has brought against

" HE SAID

MIL: WALTER DUNKELS, director of the Diamond Corporation, THAT

Which practically controls the diamond trade in this country. The baron married as his second wife

DAWN MARIE BEAUMONT, #ep-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 ciaire by Daron de Stempel for damages on an allegation that Mr. Walter Dunkels had maliciously procured his cousin to commit a breach of the baron'a contract of employment. For Mr, Dunkels It is denied that the words complained of were defamatory, and privilege and justification are pleaded,

MR. NORMÁN BIRKETT, K.C., and Mr. Gerald Gardiner op- pear for the baron.

SIR FATRICK HASTINGS. K.C., and Mr. Valentine Holmes represent Mr. Walter Dunkels.

mer,

T1

HE 'LOWERED

HIMSELF'

MAKING

HER

WIFE"

emphatically, that the court would not go into the question of the mar- ried life.

twenty-eight-year-old wife of a Russian exile, told the High Court

it, he wished Mr. Otto Dunkels to necklet, then went into the witness; obfection, and Mr. Justice Swift said, yesterday how hor hus-This is really the situation, ia

not if for any reason you are not emphasise to Mr. Louis Oppenhei- box. band had made hor mar- allowed to do business with the Dia-

mond Corporation, it is not much use It stated: "However blind you ried life unhappy by his

may be, I have equal rights with you country, is it? There are a number in connection with our child and dislike of the Jews.

of them, but they presumably don't must. be consulted and have my do as well as those brokers who are opinion regarded if any decisions are officially recognised by the Diamond to be taken. Corporation.

She said the baron used to say: "Fancy me, a 'grand seigneur, having to live

with Jews."

being a diamond broker in this

In Д word, to be a successful `dia-†

be allowed to deal with the Diamond

Yes, most assuredly.

mond broker it is essential to

HE

"I used to go out to meet/ Corporyourself would not be willing For the immediate future-I must sce

You

500

your

u

own business have breach with the Diamond Corpora-

must have little Mishica 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 contribution.

Mishka more often.

"Assuming the journey to Hallam- street is tiring after his lessons, is objection to my calling at there any o Cheyne-court?"

Questioned about the alleged slan-

11. however, relations with the der "Victor in a Jew-hater-Mr, Diamond Corporation were broken Otto Dunkels. said: "The haron of would affect your company is a man of culture and refinement ndversely?-I cannot conceive of and much too well-mannered to ex- such a thing happening.

press 'his dislike for Jews, if he had

him with welcoming arms," to said the baroness, "but he tion? It never occurred to me; 1 would push me back with the ways been on the friendliest relations with the Diamond Corpora- remark that I could not tion. understand how he felt at having to work with Jews "He would say," she con-

Inconceivable though it may be, tinued, "You can't expect what I am suggesting is currect, is it me not to hate the Jews not? If relations were broken off, when the Jews were respon- sible for killing my Emperor and Empress."

could not do business,

REGULAR VISITS

I

The baron, Mr. Otto Dunkelz said, paid regular visits to the premises of There were occasions, she the Diamond Corporation right up said, when she was going to to November 1035

ex-

an

my presence he never pressed any such dislike and was always very polite and -plensant in business when dealing with Jews or non-Jews."

Mr. Birkett: So far as you know, to "Victor is a Jew-hater" is a falsehood?

midst be a plausible slaternent to

She said she lived at Cheyne court, Chelsen, with her con The boy was at present in Switzerland, having been ill.

revenga

aroness de Stempel declared that Sir Patrick Hastings: Are you very she stuck to her husband right up to devoted to your mother?-Natural- the time when she heard, through ty. She has always been very the Franicline, about the baron's de-

termination "to get his good mother to

And to your stepfather?-My step-through the child." father has been kinder than words con express to me since I was ten years old, and to my child,

me.

Her husband, she continued, con- stantly, during their life together. had expressed his attitude of mind towards the Jews.

"The Jews were concerned with

Questioned again about references to the Jews she said: "They caused me great unhappiness, but that isn't saying that there were not momento of happiness."

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She was dealing with the ques- tions about the baron's observations about Jews when there was laughter, SATIN FINISH RAINCOATS and Mr. Justice Swift threatened to have the court cleared if there was WITH CONTRASTING PIPING and any repetition of such conduct.

our social life and his business e she said "He frequently told me how he had come down in the world through having married me, having to work und mix with Jews. "ALL JERUSALEM"

"There were occasions when I was

"People who come to hear cases must be quiet," he said. "They must not take part in the cases by indulg ing in merriment or ugreement or disagreement with, what a witness going to my parents' house, and he says. would say: 'I wonder who will be "The baroness said that her hus- there tonight-all the Jerusalem of band referred to "the Jerusalem London, I suppose!““

the baroness replied that he he to

in London" in 1923 when they went 10 dinner party with her step-aunt,

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Asked what specific references the It was one of many similar remarks. baran had made to his having Quile naturally her husband told Mr. Olto replied that by her", He did business with directors make in reference to Russian say: "Fancy me, a 'grand seigneur, Mr. Birkett: "Did he say that cer- her parents' house and the other than Mr. Walter Dunkels, aristocrat, but the baron had never having to live with Jews." He said baron commented: "I won-with Mr. Louis Oppenheimer, given him any Indiention that he was that the Jews were enemies of all the aristocracy; they had killed the Czar and Czarina.

Iy.

whom his relations were friend- a Jew-hater.

der who will be there to- Mr. Birkett: When Mr. Louis "CHIEF ASSET" night-all the Jerusalem of Oppenheimer intervened, he did so London, I suppose."

The baroness was giving evi- dence in the slander action brought by her husband against her stepfather, Mr. Walter Dunkels.

directly with you?-Yes.

This was on about November 13, Asked what words were used. Mr. Mr. Otte Dunkels said.

"I

tain Jews in Russia, who were Bol-

caused the revolution?- she would try to take an impartial view about the Jews and say that he couldn't make all Jews out to be Her husband, she added, told her

he would say: "You for the revolution In Russin. that the Jews had been responsible wrong, and

can't expect me not to hate the Jews when the Jews were responsible for Birkett, the baroness said!

Under cross-examination by Mr.

killing my. Emperor

and

Empress." band with welcoming arms, but he with her clenched Asts in dramatic

As

her answer, the she gave "I used to go out to meet my husbaroness struck herself on the chest would say he was tired and push me fashion to indicate the tenor of her valued-back with the

I remark that could not

understand haw 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."

of any

Re-examined by Sir Patrick Has Uings, Mr. Olto Dunkels said: took Baron de Stempel into my office originally, not because Otte Dunkels repiled that Mr.

Op- business capacity he had at that time, penheimer sald that he thought it but simply and solely because he rather tactless of the baron to keep brought something which

to the premises of the the support of Mr. Walter Dunkels, on coming to Diamond Corporation. the hearing was re-

director of the Diamond Corporation, Before

"He put it very mildly," said the sumed yesterday the parties left witness,

"and, coming from Mr. "Directly that support ceased, the the court with their legal ad-Louis Oppenheimer, I felt I must do baron lost his chief asset se für us

something about It," visers for a consultation.

After an absence of forty! minutes they returned to court and Sir Patrick Hastings, K.C. (for the defence), announced that

the case would have to procexxi.

Mr. Otto 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 was made on purely moral, and not un legal grounds.

Norman

FRIENDS 7 YEARS Cross-examined by Mr. Birkett, K.C. (for the baron), Mr. Otto Dunkels said he had been a friend of Baron de Stempel for seven ycare.

Mr. Birkett: In moal of the un- happy differences which arose bam tween the baron and Mr. Walter Thinkels and other people, did you take his side and sympathise with him?

Mr. Dirkel: When Mr. Louis Op- penheimer intervened did you say:

Now I must do something"?

Mr. Olto Dunkels: Because Wanted in continue my resistance and had told Mr. Oppenheimer that would like him to hear the other side, for which there was something to be sold.

“EQUAL RIGHTS"

I was concerned."

"What was that?" Sir Patrick asked,

"The support of Mr. Walter Dun Ikels," was the reply.

Mr. Marjorie Florence Franklin, of New Cavendish-street, in evidence, said that in July 1933, she met the baron-with whom she was ac quainted-in a chemist's shop and invited him to her house.

Mr.

Mr. Birkett: But you wrote your husband some very charmilng letters long after that? Yes.

husband's protestation.

She said she remembered her hus and saying about a certain Jew that it was unpleasant to have to do busi-

ness with him.

"IT WAS A JOKE" "But that was the sleep-taking And you lived with him until 19332 chap," she added, "and it was treated Yes. I used to go out with him to as a joke. My husband mentioned theatres and to the flat frequently him in his sleep." until 1913.

LOYALTY

She agreed that her husband was at all times, "intensely devoted" to their child. It was on her sugges- tion that he saw the boy three times Recalled, Baron de Stempel denied that he had expressed to the last witness dislike of Jews in general.

Sir Patrick Hastings submitted that none of the alleged standers was capable of a defamatory mean-

And all that time he had spoken a week. Franklin joined them there and the baron made some observa- disparagingly of your people and the tions about members of the Dunkels Jews? Yes, but I said nothing about family.

It out of loyalty to my husband. stuck to him because I knew he had got to keep in business with people who were Jews.

The baron handed him a letter to the bareness, Mr. Otto Dunkels con- tinued, showing the destres 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. Olto Dunkels sild he did on FIERCE controversy will be aroused in Parliament and

mast 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 trodden an"?-Nor Id: why which 265 men lost their lives.

more and not allow yourself to be

don't you give Dawn a divorce? In 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-

that was: "I could not do that.

So you don't agree with the baroning. when he says the opening years of your married life were happy?

Replying, Mr. Birkett contended that It was highly defamatory to The baroness was saying, in reply, suggest to an employer that he ought that she wished to quality her to get rid of an employee. answer, when Sir Patrick raised ani The hearing was adjourned,

AIRMAN SIGHTS

NEW LAND

LAND IN ANTRCTIC

do that sort of thing." His answer to was revealed that Sir Henry Walker (Chief Mines NEWS of the discovery of hitherto unknown land in

Mr. Otto Dunkels agreed that in Inspector) and his two assessors, Mr. Joseph Jones (the

would lose my child."

1933 It .ng suggested that the baron should be made a partner of the 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. Ollo Dunkels) resisted that pressure.

the Antarctic was received in Oslo this month

miners' president) and Mr. John Brass (Colliery by radio from Hr. Lars Christensen, the Norwegian

director), had been unable to agree-

explorer.

Where in the mine the ex-men to work with increasing reck- "The Norwegian flag plosion occurred;

How it occurred; or Who was to blame for it.

Mr. Birkett! Was the attitude that

The Labour Party has already! the baren took this: "My domestic decided to demand a full-dress |

lessness and open contempt for the dangers run."

plane," the message stated. The manager, he says, "appeared land has been mapped."

to allow the firemen and shot-frers to do as they liked."

ONE SURVIVED

life ought not to be brought into debate in the House of Com-1 After the explosion, when the business matters"?

mons. Mr. Attlee will ask the rescue parties were at work, a team Mr. Olto Dunkels: Consistently so.

of five men was sent (Mr. Jones "Can you explain," asked Mr. Jus- Premier on Monday to allot says) into a place by a deputy, not- tice Swift, how a man's domestic day, and the debate will prob-withstanding, tire fact that within life can be kept out of business if ably take place the week after six yards of the entrance the airnos- the person with whom he has to deal

in business is his step-father-in-law, next.

and who has quarrelled with his

wife?"

"IMMEDIATE ACTION"

phere was tested by using a canary, which instantly dropped dead.

Only one of the five emerged allyc.

Max Baer's Home Destroyed

has been dropped from a "All of the newly-discovered

Hr. Viggo Widerpee, the Nor wegian airman who is assisting Hr. Christensen, was the pilot of the plane.

NEW MOUNTAIN RÁNCE He has discovered n

range of mountains between the 35th and 40th degrees of longitude cast of the Greenwich meridian and about 60 degrees south.

The

highest peak is about 4,500 ft A radio message was scat the Norweginn whaler out from Thorshavn, In which Hr. Christensea is now engaged in his fourth voyage of axploration.

WHERE IT IS

Sacramento, March 1. Mr.

Otto Dunkels: It is difficult to M.P.'s of all parties were saying explain, but that was the attitude of in the House of Commons lobbles, The deputy concerned "sent the baron.

yesterday, that the issues raised are brigade, forward without at the MAX BAER'S country house. where he was living, with Mr. Otto Dunkel said that the of such grave public importance as and without a reserve brigade in effect of the solicitors' letter written to demand immediate acilen by the attendance. It is therefore difficult his wife and his manager, Ancil on behalf of the baron on Novem- Government.

to escape the conclusion that the Hoffman, has been destroyed by ber 6, 1935, regarding the question of Of the three reports, the most deputy was guilty of manslaughter a mysterious fire, damage being access to his son, was brought to outspoken is that of Mr. Jones, Sir Henry Walker's main conclu- his notice two days later by Mr. whose charges are sumclently serious, sions are that much of the evidence estimated at £8,000.

In the view of many. MP's to oblige tendered was unreliable;

A dog's furious barking gave:

He discovered Bouvet Island, and That the initial mistake which led by their consideration by the Law

the Kiar and enabled 10 Princess Astrid Land. A gren! Officers of the Crown,

to tho

explosion the failure toi

occupauls to leave in safely.

stretch of the Antarctie already bears Mr. Jones, who says that before carry out a big scheme of venulla- the 'explosion one part of the pit was tion some years previously; and

They were playing cards at the his name. That workmen and omcials alike time and were forced to leave most

[The newly-found region is more veritable gasometer" awaiting

bluntly accuses the manage- had been responsible for breaking of their posscalons behind in the than 2,400 miles south of Durban, South Africa, and almost mid-way ment of

between Coats Land and Kaiser Wilhelm II. Land.

Walter Dunkels.

"Did he seem very incensed that?" Mr. Norman Birkett asked..

HE KEPT OUT

Wal

"Yes, very much so," was the re-igniti inking flagrant risks with the law. with regard to shot-firing | blazc.

ply

Up till that time My, Louls Oppen- the knowledge of all concerned in and the eight-hour day. heimer (one of the directors of the order that the maximum tonnage of Mr. Brass's suggestion is that a

Hoffman said that the flames broke Diamond Corportation) had never cool could be got per day?"!

spark from a telephone caused an out simultanequaly in several parts of Intervened at oli?--No.

He finds that "firemen drove their explosion of fredamp.

the house Indicating Incendiariam,

It lies only 200 miles from 'a point reached by Captain: Cook in 1773.). -

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