New-York tribune., 1918-05-10
Swami Asks Lord
Aberdeen to Cease
Relief Collections
He Promised to Stop, Prose
cution Says; "lt's False -
Nobleman Retorts

Lord Aberdeen, former Governor
General of Canada, was questioned yes
tcrday for nearly two hours by District
Attorney Swami about the methods ne
and Lady Aberdeen have employed in
soliciting charity contributions in New
York for the women and babies of Ire
land and Scotland. His Lordship's
presence before the criminal prosecutor
was indirectly caused by Charlie Chap
lin. Chaplin was billed as the head
liner for his Lordshlp's benefit Wednes-
day afternoon IN Carnegie Hall, but
while the audience was gathering,
Chaplin was on his way to California
to fill an engagement with his film man.
ayers.
District Attorney Swami learned from
his Lordship that Lady Aberdeen had
charge of the finances and that since
1915 "about $4,000" had been raised in
this country for welfare work. Lord
Aberdeen thought that of this perhaps
Is per cent had been used for the per-
sonal expenses of Lady Aberdeen and
himself.
Lord Aberdeen declined to talk to
newspaper men after his interview with
the prosecutor. He preferred that As
sistant District Attorney Talley, who
also questioned him, should speak to
the press for him.
District Attorney Swami" said Mr.
Talley, pointed out to Lord Aberdeen
that inasmuch as the collections had
been rather small and the objects
mistakably appeared to have been
allied with war relief work, it might
be better to stop the collections until
h Nf <1.n &lnx 81
enemy might not derive a false i'm
preston of the success of war relief
work in general in New York Lord
Aberdeen seemed much impressed by
the proposition, and it was tacitly
agreed he would give no more benefits
Later in the day Lord Aberdeen was
informed of Mr.. Talley's version of
his agreement by reporter who called
at his suite in the Ritz Carlton.
tits false" he said 81 am going
right on with the work"
When District Attorney Swami was
acquainted with that he said:
Lord Aberdeen certainly gave me to
understand he would give no more
benefits in New York, and that he in
tended to sail shortly for England"
Mr.. Talley, continuing his recital of
Lord Aberdeen's examination, said his
lordship said Lady Aberdeen two days
before the Carnegie Hall affair saw
Harrington, Chaplin's secretary, and
was told Chaplin would appear, even
if he had to cancel his reservations for
his Western trip. His lordship said
he had sent the following telegram to
Chaplin:
Didn't you promise to show up at
our benefit? ?"
His lordship said he had received no
reply.
Lord Aberdeen was accompanied to
the District Attorneys Office by
Charles Robert Kearney, chairman of
the Woman's National Health Associa-
tion of Ireland, which is the title of
the welfare organization, and by Frank
Dilmot, representative of "The London
Chronicle" who said he came along to
give his moral support" to Lord Aber-
deem.
District Attorney Swami indicated
last night that the inquiry into Lord
and Lady Aberdeen's activities was a
CLOSED incident" He said he did not
intend to subpoena any of the books
kept by Lady Aberdeen or the bank
accounts in the Bankers Trust Com
pany and ]. P. Morgan & Co.