St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-10-02
MALTREATED HIS RIVAL.
An English Baronet's Queer Meth
DDS Lead to Litigation.

LONDON, Oct. IA sensational case
came before the Westminster police
court this morning. The principal per-
son involved was Sir Thomas George
Freake, Bart, whose town house is at
No. 81 Onslow Gardens. Sir Thomas
was arrested at the instance of Mr..
Gibson, who used to be his intimate
friend. The story told by Gibson is
that Sir Thomas lured him, on one pre-
text or another. TO the cellar of an
empty house In Kensington. There the
baronet, assisted by friends, overpow
cred Gibson and put him in handouts.
This done, the ASSISTANTS examined
GibsOn'S pockets and took possession of
his keys. With these Sir Thomas pro-
ceeded to st. Georges club, i'll Hanover
square, went to Gibson's private box,
unlocked it and took out and destroyed
the letters and photographs which Glib
son had received from lady. After
that he sent telegram from the club,
to which he signed Gibson's name. The
magistrate. after a brief hearing. re-
manded Sir Thomas for further exam
ination. 1t is asserted that Sir Thomas
and Gibson were rivals for the affections
of the lady whose letters Sir Thomas
appropriated, and that both of them had
been on terms Of extreme intimacy with
her. 1t is further asserted chat the lacy
had tired of GibSon's attentions. and
that she was present in the cellar at the
time of the assault Oh Gibson.
Freake.s Crime Is Forgery.
The Freake scandal. whichi was ven.
tilated at the Westminster police court
to-day, is the talk of the town. Sir
Thomas Freake and wife are both we'll
known in society. They are enormously
wealthy, and their establishments and
entertainments are conducted OH a
grand scale. Mr.. Gibson was formerly
an intimate friend of Sir Thomas, and
lived at his house for over a year.
1t seems that during this time lie be-
came enamored of his friends mis-
tress, and finally succeeded In alenat-
ing her from Sir Thomas. Gibson also
spied upon Sir Thomas movements, and
kept record of his observations, be-
sides purloining certain letters from
tine woman in question, which were
of nature to compromise Sis Thomas.
Finally, Gibson attempted, with
the aid of the letters and other
discriminating evidence, to levy black
mail upon his erstwhile friend. Sir
Thomas delayed matters by parleying,
and meanwhile succeeded, by showing
Gibson up in his true coiorS, in gaining
the cooperation of his former mistress.
Through her aid Gibson was decoyed
into trap and Sir Thomas obtained the
letters with which Gibson had endeav-
ored to blackmail him. 1t is probable
that his plan of defending himself
from the Vaccinations of his false
friend would have succeeded, and no
publicity would have resulted, if ne
had not signed Gibson's name to teIe-
gram. This constitutes forgery and I'M
wolves very severe punishment. Glib
son quickly seized. the opportunity to
obtain revenge, and brought the matter
to the attention of the crown prose-
cutor, who announced his determina-
ton to press the charge, irrespective of
the peculiar circumstances of the case,
Much sympathy is everywhere eX-
pressed for the prisoner, and doubtless
great influence will be brought to bear
to save him from the penal conse.
quences of his technical otfense.