THE BANDMANN LIBEL CASE.

In the Supreme Court of Hong Kong, on July 18th, Robert Fraser-Smith, publisher and proprietor of the Hong Kong Telegraph, was charged with publishing two false and malicious libels on Mr D. E. Bandmann, the actor. The first alleged libel was an article which appeared on the 10th June, headed "Tragic Power," and 'which was a parody on the notice of Herr Bandmann in " Men of the Time. " The second was an article which appeared on the 14th June, which charged tne complainant ' with being a confirmed woman beater, and referred to him as the hero of the dastardly' assault on Mrs Bousby. The defendant pleaded first not guilty, and secondly, truth and justification. The publication of the alleged libel having been proved, the defendant addressed the Court at considerable length. He then called his witnesses.

Mrs Ellen Ogden, an actress, lately a member of the Bandmann and Beaudet Company, said the joined the company at Adelaide as a pupil of Mr Bandmann. She was to receive her board and dress, small sums for little necessaries, and a small salary if she made rapid progress. From Adelaide they went to Calcutta, and for a fortnight of the time she was sick. At the first rehearsal In Calcutta she saw Mr Bandmann lift his hand to hit Miss Baymond, swearing at her at the same time. Since then Mr Bandmann had sworn at witness for hot walking on the stage as he wished.-, She was never sworn at before and was frightened. I remember the performance of " Don Ceesar. de Bazan ;" my name had been put down to give a song. I had been ill the day before, and at the rehearsal he made me sing the song several times. He then said I was not to sing it, .used very bad language, and I left and went to the hotel. Mr Bandmann came after me, and said if I did not come back he would drag me there. I was rather afraid, and I went back. I don't remember anything else on the dtage that morning except that Mr Bandmann swore at Miss Raymond, and! she left the stage crying. Corroborative evidence was given by Mr R. E. Inman and Mr W. B. Schmidt, formerly member of Mr Bandmann's Company. Mr B. D'Orsay Ogden in his evidence said: I know Miss Mylford ; . her mother placed her in my charge in Bombay where she first geared on the stage. I hare never known Mr Bandmann use violence to her. I have found fault with her nervousness as sHe was nervous as an amateur. Mr Bandmann has told me that he has used to Miss Mylford some of the filthiest language lever heard out of a man's mouth to woman, and I remonstrated with him, telling him it was in bad taste'; it did him no good, and always told against him. He excused himself, as he thought, by saying, " You never can get anything out of a .women unless you frighten her." Mr Bandmann has never abused women in my presence, but Mr Bandmann is in the habit .of swearing on the stage at those he could do so to with impunity. He always discriminates. I have frequently seen the article ." Tragic Power" in a great number of places. Mr Bandmann was very wroth when it was published in Calcutta by Mr Carson. Ido not remember whether Mr Bandmann showed it to trie in Calcutta.

The' complainant said the narrative in " Men of the Time " was fairly correct so far. It was supplied by himself. He was asked for a true and honest account of his career. He bad heard it stated that en one occasion ■at Calcutta he raised his hand to strike Miss Raymond. It was not true ; he never raised his hand against any woman.. He admitted havin/r sworn occasionally at the men, but denied that he had ever done so to the women. The expressions attributed to him were vile slanders. He had never abused Miss Beaudet. As to the statement that he had caught Mrs Ogden by the arm and shoulders and shaken her violently, he said he had never done anything of the kind, nor had he ever assaulted Miss Raymond or Miss Mylford, and Mrs Ogden's ingratitude in Btating he had was something extraordinary. Miss Beaudet had been with him about three years. She took juvenile parts in San Francisco, and she had been with him under his instruction ever since., His wife, formerly known as Miss Millie Palmer, was in Germany educating his children, and he had a letter from her by every mail. He might have used the word "damn," and he might also have said, "For God's sake," or"^Tor Heaven's sake," In Germany, where. he was born and educated, it was not thought so terrible a thing to use the name of God in that way as it was in England. Miss Louise Beaudet denied that Mr Ba,ndmann had ever used foul and offensive language to her, and said she had not heard him do so to any of the other ladies except once, when he said to Miss Mylford " : it, can't you speak up? Use a little spirit." He was a severe master, but a just One. Mr Alfred Donaldson, who joined in Bombay, said — I was present at all the rehearsals of the Company at Shanghai. I remember Miss Mylford, who was with the company there. , I have never, seen her violently shaken and frightened and made to cry by Mr Bandmann. I was more intimate with' Miss Mylford than anyone of the company, as I had known her at Bombay and her mother and sister. I have never heard her complain of Mr Bandman's ill-treatment of her, but of the ill-treatment she experienced from two other members of the company. My experience of Mr Bandmann as a master has been that he is a gentleman, and treated us as a master should treat us, The accused was found guilty, and sentenced to two months imprisonment.