HC Deb 11 March 1902 vol 104 cc1007-8
MR. MARKHAM (Nottinghamshire, Mansfield)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that, in March,1884, Mr. Isaac Joel, of the firm of Barnato & Co., was arrested in Kimberley on a charge of illicit diamond buying, but was released on bail and then fled from South Africa; that his bail of £4,000 was estreated in the Kimberley Special Court on 27th May, 1884; that the Metropolitan Police, in July and August, 1884, circulated a woodcut portrait of this gentleman in the Police Gazette; also that Chief Justice Sir H. De Villiers, on 5th May, 1885, in the case of Barnato v. Editor of the Cape Argus, stated that it was quite clear that by one Isaac Joel an offence was committed, referring to the above charge; and whether this gentleman, or his brother Solomon, the other partner in the firm of Barnato Brothers, has been accepted by His Majesty's Government as a guarantor for the new meat contract in South Africa.

MR. BRODRICK

As regards Mr. Isaac Joel I have no information in these matters. Mr. S. Joel is a director of the Imperial Supply and Cold Storage Company.

MR. PIRIE

Is it not the case that this person was not arrested because the warrant for his arrest was withdrawn at the instance of his partner, Mr. Rhodes?

MR. BRODRICK

I know nothing of that.

MR. MARKHAM

Is it not the fact that Mr. Joel is one of those whose names were given to the House by the right hon. Gentleman as a guarantor of the meat contract on behalf of one of the companies concerned, and why was not this statement given to the House at the time?

MR. BRODRICK

was understood to reply that the name was given to the House.