In the early stages of the case mention was made of ‘General X’ as the lover of Dorothy Dennistoun in the years 1916–1920. She revealed  that the mystery  man was in fact General Sir John Cowans,  Quartermaster of the British Army during the First World War.

Cowans had died in 1921.

This sensational disclosure caused fury and crisis.

Later in the proceedings it was said that Ian Dennistoun's promotions in the army had all been made by Cowans.