1948-01-24 — Page 7

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 1948.

A man who

who died for

the lust of Gold

Sir Edward Marshall Hail

And the strange part Number 13 played

in his fate

by.... A. E. BOWKER ·

This is the first of a fascinating new series telling the story of two of the greatest counsel of this century-the late SIR EDWARD MARSHALL HALL, K.C., and SIR NORMAN BIRKETT, famous in history as a judge of the court which tried the leading Nazis at Nuremberg.

Mr. A. E. BOWKER, the author, was clerk to both men in the heyday of their fame, and was behind the scenes with them through the dramatic days.

THE first big murder case The rest had all passed into

T

shares. leases, maney, and everything else had been "made- over to Seildon by Miss Barrow,

in which was concern the hands of Seddon; stocks. ed with Sir Edward Mar- shall Hall was a crime carried out by a scoundrel whose last for gold was the one governing True, he had given her a influence of his life. The document in return promising medium of death was poison- her an annuity of 472, with a ing, and the chief actor was further £1 a week for the lenses Frederick Henry Seddon.

mentioned. But she had not.

I say the chief netër, for lived long to enjoy her annuity. there was Another person in the duck beside him--his an- happy wife, Margaret Seddon, who was acquifted.

They were

jointly tried for the murder of Miss Eliza Mary Buyrow on September 14, 1911. I was in my room one after- noon when the telephone hell rang and a voice said:

"My name is Saint, solicitor, of --- (mentioning a North London address). I would like to call and see you with regard to the defence of Seddon."

I made an appointment with Mr Saint, who called upon me in chambers,

He told me the strength- and weakness-of the case, und we agreed upon the fee.

It was thin, together with the purchase of fly-papers contain- ing arsenie, which provided the prosecution with both the motive for and the inedium of the crime.

SEDDON'S ERROR

Or Soutdon's cupidity there can be - doubt, for on The day of Miss Barrow's death he went to the uri-

་

Seddon

the

Mr. Justice Birkett

admirable

In Mr Filson Young's

We arrived in court about 20 bank "The Trial of the Seddons" minutes before the ense was due, there is on Interesting document in and had a hurried consultation the appendix written by Seddon on while Marshall Hall was getting the eve of his execution,

Into his robes. It shows how the number 13 hnd been unlucky for him in connection with his case. It begins:

"Miss Barrow came to my house August 1910. Died September 1911. Months 13.

"Tonk 111 September 1. Dled September 14. Days 13.

LUTH

"I arrested December 4. Old Baj- boy trial Morch 4. Werks 13.

Our client uppenred to be a very ntee fellow la his early 30's.

"I suppose your character is ali right?" asked Marshall Hall.

"Absolutely," was the uncom- promising reply.

"Nothing against you at all?" "Nothing."

When our client left the FOOM Marshall Hall turned to Our in-

"Attended Inquest twice. Police structing solicitor.

Court 1 times. Total 13.

(13th

"You're

right?" he

all sure your man is he asked, to be again assur- that he had m absolutely "blameless character."

"Append hard April 1, werk in New Year.) 13.

"Grounds of appeal. 13 points of law on appeal naper made by soli On this, Marshall Hall in C-

citor. 13.

"Reprieve papers sent in by soli- elter. April 13."

And so it runs on t the lost paragraphe

cordance with his Instructions, made a vigorous attack on the character of the complainant and her mother. Thes the defence was opened, and our client of the "blomeless character" was called.

It

"I made this out on Good Friday, April. 5 and found on reflection that

He was

cross-examined, and fixel it was just 13 days to date

was worth the journey to Manches for execution. April 18. 13."

Hell's ler just to watch Marshall He could have added at least one face as he stened to the admissions more item to the list:

"Am to be hanged in 1812. Total Wrung from our paragon of virtue.

13."

One gets another gimpse of hypocrisy of this man in the special verse he selected for the memorial

the

It

card of the dead woman. reads:

NOT SO GOOD

It went something like this: "Now then, Mr X. how old you?".

"Thirty-two."

"How many

A dene is missing and with us have you?"

No more,

magnificent

That polee so

much loved we hear not pain.

Jame

dertaker, fold him that all that was So, in spite of left to

the funeral expenses and work done by Marshall Hall, and bis the durfor's fee was £4 10s.

brilliant closing speech, lasting over He orgained! with the

under- four hours, the jury found Seddon Yet we think of you now the faker, bad his lodger burled in

aguilty, acquitting his unhappy wife. And know you are free from trouble and took 12. pher's prave,

6d. who, as the

evidence showed. was

by way of commission on the deal. little more than a domestic servant

Another fatal mistake he made in the Seddon

thoroughly 15-

home. was to refrain from teiling: Miss under the domination of her Barrow's relatives of her death. band. and it was not fill September 20. four days after the funeral on 16th, that the Vunderales, her cou- sins, knew that Miss Barrow was dend

the

CLOSING SCENE

The closing scene was tensely dramatic than any I ever witnessed.

ΜΠΟΓΟ

as of porc,

and pain.

A pause, "One."

arc

bastard children

a ht

"Will you swear on oath that you have only one bastard child?"

A longer pause, "Two."

this"-producing "And Isn't document- summons due to heard at the police court adjudging you to be the father of a third?"

"Yes.

After the trial Marshall Hall turn ed to me in chambers the next day and remarked: "Bowker. I don't So much for our client's "blame- think I'll ever take on another mure less character." der case.

The

strain is too great. In spite of this unexpected de- It takes too much out of one." nouement, our man was acquitted

I did not say anything, for I knew but he was not so lucky a few years have him so well I knew that he was a later when we appeared for him on born fighter. knew that he could a charge of perjury committed dur- unt resist the lure of any case no Ing the hearing of another affilation

summons against him. And I was rght!

In due course Seddon was sent for trial at the Old Bailey. In the meantime, I had seen something of what hard work went on in a murder case where That leller was never the 14th. Arraigns addresses the prisoner. "A matter how great the strain.

poison was the cause of death.

Mr. A. E. Botuker

Even so they did not learn it from seddon, although Seddon declared that he hadi written

received.

Naturally. Mr Vonderakes tried to ree Seddon, but the latter had gone for a holiday, and it was not until -October that the two men met and the causin's suspletons were 'avous ert.

How often when the Clerk of

the

or B, you stand convicted of wilful murder, have you anything to

say why the court should not give you indement of death

Recording to law does one bear

few embled words, or even nothing at all-perhaps only a shrug of the

Hle notified the authorities, and in thoulders is seen? "quiries "were" niadu.

BODY EXHUMED

Not Seddon! There was some Thint of the exhibitionist about this man, as there so often is abotit mur-

Already his wife had heard the words "Not Guilty,"

Before she

As a Besult of the laid by Mr Varulerabes, the body of Miss Harrow was exhumed, the or- dans submitted to examination by Dr Spilsbury and Dr Willeox, and

Me and Mrs Seddon were restal.

Information derers.

ar-

left the dock Seddon nd swept across to her, took her in his amos, and kissed her.

Now it was his turn, and he faced

Bucknill— It had been discovered that Mrs the judge-Air Justice

calmly and! unflinchingly. In fact, of the conflenmed 111471 was cooler for than the judge himself.

Selden lind been in the habit changing five-pound nutes Sovereigns al varlous shops, 1- times signing them with a false

name.

ON THE TRUTH

THREE TELEGRAMS

Worc

Among the most treasured docu- meats kept by Marshall 11all, right such up to the time of his death. have three telegrams that he received at ferent times from a grateful lady

Not all the cases which come into chambers are fraught with suspense and drama. Some their amusing side.

During a trial at Manchester, I client. bad brought home to me how stupid Three times in all he appeared people can be in falling to tell their for her on charges of abortion, and tegal advisers "the truth, the whole three times had she heard the fore-

ruth, and nothing but the truth."

Marshall man of the Jury-after We went down to defend a young Hall had made his speech on her man charged with an Indecent

behalf-atter the magic words, "Not assault.

guilty."

'The defence was a complete On the Arst ocension' after her ac- which denial of the assault, and an allega- quittal she sent a telegram tion that the girl and her mother reads: "Thank you very much.--- were both of bad character.

Marshall Hall was instructed cross-examine both women a

Daisy,"

to

their character.

the

On the second occasion she wired: to "Thank you again--Daisy."

Following her third nequittal he At the end of the Clerk's question This course of action has certain following: telegram arrived:- Seddon replied firmly, "I have, sir." legal consequences in regard to the For the third and last

time, was sitting just underneath the lows of evidence. Jau accused thank you-Dalsy." Needless to say, :: WAK OR the medical evidence that Marshall Hall deck, and it seemed as though Sed person attacks the character of

And so far as I know Daisy was don was leaning right over 13.V ather side, he may if he gives never charged again. concentrated the heavy guns of his

head.

ezidence, have his character chal- cross-examination. I had seen Marshall Hall The and time: again he chal-

Half bent over the front of the inted by opposing counsel, ond he

can be The Judge

cross-examined 011 that rending up every detail of pre- lenged the acknowledited experts an dock, he addressed

In had measured tones, putting forward his WI vious poisoning cases, especial- the question of the tests they

logically.

Needless to say, therefore, It arguments, lucidly and by where arsenic had been used.de with regard to, arsenical poi rising the rulence, and we the essential that counsel conducting a

Nor was he without the

case should, if instructed to uttack At times he put a question which jutte on one occasion.

the other side, be perfectly certain should like to mention, assistance of expert toxicolo- brought an admission that one wit-

my that his own for ford," he said. "that in your

client's character As "did not know." gists, for he had many, many ness medical friends, and could example, when, cross-examining Dr thing-up you said there was a time beyond reproach.

Spilsbury, he asked:- always rely on their expert nid "Is it a scientifle fact that if there when the will was being prepared.

soning.

Mim-

which the wife left me in the room

R no matter what the cause of is

"I have never been in Miss Bar-1 any

af poison in the body

the death might be.

time of burial it does not matter row's room alune from September

16 fill the day of her death." What is more, he hnd n how you bury the body there is pretty good knowledge of tendency for that poison to gravi

tale to the leftside organs?"

forensic medicine and poisoning

I did not know that." was the

THE JUDGE

himself; so that when it came reply. to questioning and cross- "You yourself did not make any on for ages. In the highly

you

were telling examining expert witnesses of the tests: there Way slibness and what Dr Willcox told you?"

They are Dr Willcox's figures." assurance that showed he had.

2

us

court.

not neces-

drawn

It ended on the amazing high nitch of drama which has been. widely, written about.

50

will

18

NEXT WEEK The Strange Case of the Vindictivo Nurso

(From "Behind the Bar," bu A. E. Bowker, to be published by Staples Press.

BY THE WAY

by Beachcomber

24

His speech seemed to go on and nounced anook) will be on sale next where one grow before.

Ten million tins of mock (pro- alternatively, making no noses grow

Old days in Ahahaland atmosphere of that closely packed spring. It tastes like hake.

(News item).

WHEN the Alahas go out to fight THE whole position is cóm- they wear their peaked hats plicated, according to back to front, so that the enemy will mastered, every detail of the A BAD WITNESS

think they are retreating. They It was just as he declared that Food official, by the fact that stamp on their shields to make a subject.

Or, as in the case of the cross the prosecution had failed to trace so many people call hake hock terrifying noise, and while they are Seddon wag an Insurance examination of Dr Willcox.

"anything to me in the shape of (pronounced hook) and Say it stamping on them the spears of the agent living at Tollington Park, "Now supposing a person was money, which is the rent motive

unprotected. Holloway. Miss Eliza Barrow taking large, but safe, medicinal suggested by the prosecution in this tastes like snake (pronounced enemy find their bodies

Hence the old Dur- When they wish to outflank the op- was a spinster who went to live does continuously for a period ex- case, for me to commit this diaboll-shake).

posing forces, they pretend to ham folk-rhyme. with Seddon and his wife, tak- ie your, that would

tending over months, and even pos- eat erime.

going In the opposite direction. This 1 "I am not guilty, my lord. If ing with her a little orphan boy sarily produce arsenical poisoning?" say more I do not suppose it Mr Strachey, who is not lose in contex vedenia the one wer named Grant.

"No, not necessarily. It would make any difference, but if it is the conceiving it to be his duty to to set up a yelling and to

direction say it is palatable and nutritious, their spears in the

they Inst word I have to speak, I say says It is palatable and nutritious. When she first went to live depend upon the patient."

wish to appear to be taking. Those 2nd the cane ngeinst Seddon Je- there Miss Barrow was worth pendled entirely

am not guilty of the crime for

are not of the outflanking party medical which I stand judged."

What I have never understood is 011 the

going away, with about £4,000.

evidence. I have always felt that Mr Justice Duckulli was deeply why we do not import gogi, the

secured affected.

ftying Some of her money was in Marshall Hall would have

is pronounced much shouting and running. When "vested in leasehold property- an acquittal by the very daring and

enormous fires behind them, which said, "but our brother-Bengal, tastes like plaster however they put out immediately, skilful manner in which he handled hood," he public-house und a barber's

to coll the expert witnesses.

hood does not encourage crime: if you cook it. shop-and a fair amount was in

vince the enemy that they decided But it t nol. There was conderans it." 'gold and notes. This was in wealth of circumstantial

to stay, but then went away, What cvidence, And then-Try to make ably marsholled and put in the with your Maker."

THE ofclats of the National Gat dunned tools they are! July 1910.

"I am at peace," was the prompt,] I' By September 1911, when scales against him.

lery are, I notice, compelled to Epitaph Then there was Seddon himself! eléår answer. Sentence of death confess that the allempts to she died, all that was left of A bad witness in spite of his gift of was then passed.

brighten up the Old Masters have 'her possessions were about £10 phrasing and ready answer,

The case was taken to the Court resulted in some pictures galning or in cash, and a few odda und He was too ready, too facile, and of Criminal Appeal, but the appeal losing features. This explains why enda of personal belongings, it was not long before the dendly was dismissed.

Moroni's tailor has two noses. to Sir incisive cruss-examination

And, in spite of the fact that over Hudson Lowe's

none. Advanced probably worth about £15 or from

him the admissions that 300,000 people signed a petition for artists call this making two noses £20.

proved his gullt.

reprlove, Seddon was duly hanged.grow where one grow before-or,

wrung

fish which

"We both belong to one brother-mobo. It is caught in the Bay of they camp for the night they light

Art peace

ས

Here lies a vast soprano;

While simping "Leberwurst" She broke the grand plano,

Turned purple, and then burst. If she had sung more gently, Or in a lower key...... Ark of the winds that far around

With fragments strewed the sea,

G

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HE CAN PREDICT WHEN

PLANES WILL CRASH

Eindhoven, Holland, Jan. 23. Dutch mathematical analyst A. van Vrede, whose name in translation means "peace," heard, on August 27, 1947, that there had been a severe earthquake in Chile. Before he had even learned whether there were casualties, he said: "Such a tragedy! Acroplanes will crash this day!”

And they did. Within a few and money and not a little patience, hours a Norwegian flying boat, for air lines seem extraordinarity a British Dakota, and a Cuban research fund and scientists to whom lethargic about contributing to his transport cracked up.

The has written have not proven

overly enthusiastle.

Vredo.

"It is only logical," sighed Mr van For both air disasters and earth tremors have. the same cosmological cause."

**Lot the

Getting Data

contradict it!"

selentists come to me,

Mr van Vrede, 40, who works for then," enorted Mr van Vrede. "I have a large Philips electronles concern proof of my theory-let them try to at Eindhoven, has encrificed all his spare time for two years the task

carthquakes and Although no one has gone that far, of proving that

arc caused cosmo- 50MU institutions now are sending him the sort of materiál he re- reports quires-datu on the dates, times and places of ale crashes and earthquakes,

air

logica Malics

He collects all available of plane crashes, earth tremors and even shipwrecks, which, he suspects, are not uninfluenced by cosmology, This work requires considerable time

Malay Pearl Divers For Australia

Mr van Vrede claims that he has accurately predicted disasters which, he said, occurred on June 14 and June 19, 1947. But he is unusually fair-minded about his studies and refuses to make any predictions Juring the months.

autumn

and winter

"During those seasons too many Malayan pearl divers, soon will secondary causes, such as wind, lee be back at work off the northwestern and fog, may contribute to dlausters," Australian coast. Permission has he said, "I prefer to calculate air been granted by the Australian accidents in midsummer, to that ro- Government for 12 divers to enter body can say that a plane nas

dite the country, the first to return since crashed

to had

weather. the war-Associated Press.

United Press.