THE SHIELDS GAZETTE AND SHIPPING TELEGRAPH

South Shields, Durham, England

29 June 1934

(page 9)

COMMITTED FOR TRIAL

Mr. Crowley Reserves His Defence

Edward Alexander Crowley (58), of Upper Montagu Street, London, W., appeared on remand yesterday at Marylebone Police Court charged with feloniously receiving five letters, the property of Betty Sedgwick.

At the previous hearing, Mr. Edward F. Iwi, who prosecuted, said that certain documents which were the subject matter of the charge were at present in the custody of the Master of the Crown.

Application would have to be made in the High Court for the documents to be produced.

To-day, Mr. Iwi said that the letters were alleged to have been received between June 21st, 1933, and April, 1934, from a house in Seymour Street, in which Mrs. Sedgwick was living in June, 1933.

“According to my instructions,” Mr. Iwi added, “those documents were stolen while she was there, and were received by the defendant, knowing them to have been stolen.”

THE DOCUMENTS.

Mr. Iwi now produced the documents which, he explained, were in his personal care.

Prosecutrix, in the box, said that she was a model usually known professionally as “Betty May,” and was now living at Hampstead. She did not see the five letters—four originals and a copy—after June last year until the High Court action.

Mr. Iwi: Did you willingly part with these letters to anybody?—No.

“What value do you place on them,” Mr. Iwi asked.

“Sevenpence-halfpenny,” was Mrs. Sedgwick’s reply.

After further evidence, the magistrate remarked that he was glad someone else would finally deal with the case.

“If the defendant is found guilty,” he added, “I shall be very interested to know how the person who has to deal with it, does deal with it.”

Mr. Gallop said that, following the magistrate’s remark, he would not call Crowley.

“He wishes it to be understood that he has an absolute explanation,” Mr. Gallop added.

Crowley, who pleaded not guilty and reserved his defence, was committed for trial at the Old Bailey and allowed bail of £10.