VINDICATED.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18918, 5 February 1927, Page 15

VINDICATED.

NAME OF W. E. GLADSTONE

VERDICT FOR DEFENDANT

(Br CABtr.-PRESS ASSOCIAT!OS-COrvRIGHT.I (AUSTRALIA* AVD X.-. CABLE ASSOCIATION-.*

LONDON, Februan- 3.

Prominent events of Victorian days were unfolded with extraordinary dear vision by Mr T. p. O'Connor as a witness on behalf of Viscount Gladstone. He stated: "r have been a member of the House of Commons for fortyseven years, and I am familiar with events in England and Ireland from 1880 onwards."

« M A.£ srkctt refme, l «> a INissagc in Mr O Connor's obituary notice of Lord Milner, in which he ascribed to Lord Milner the words: "One does not know what Mr Gladstone is going to do, until one knows what the seraglio has decided."

Mr Eirkett: Captain Wright savs that seraglio moans harem. What do you think it means?

There was a tremor iu his voice when Mr O'Connor replied: "There is not tho slightest doubt that Lord Milner meant the extraordinary solicitude of Mrs Gladstone, which was notorious at the time. Often she was in the inner lobby after he had made a great speech, in order to muffle him up properly for the homeward journey. That's what Lord Milner meant." *

Questioned regarding Mr Gladstone's alleged connivance at the relationship between Mr Parnell and Mrs O'Sliea. Mr O'Connor answered unhesitatingly that Gladstone had no knowledge or conviction of it, nor had he even considered it.

Mr O'Connor withstood :i lengthy cross-examination on incidents extending over years, and concluded with the observation: "Even if Lord Mitncr suspected wrong relationship between Mr Gladstone and ladies, he was far too great a gentleman to mention it." Mr Evcleigh Nash, chairman of the publishing firm, emphatically asserted that he did not see the offending passage, which must have been inserted by Captain Wright in the proofs. The jury was absent for two and a half hours. On returning the foreman said that Gladstone's letter of July 27th was true. The Judge: That is a verdict for the defendant. The public began to applaud. The Judge: If anyone attempts to make a noise I shall commit him for contempt of Court. The foreman: Wc wish to add that wc are unanimously of the opinion that tho evidence given completely vindicated the high moral character of Mr Gladstone. The judge then entered judgment for defendant, with costs. Mr Birkett, on behalf of Viscount Gladstone, added the latter's deep appreciation to members of the jury for their verdict. Lord and Lady Gladstone were then the recipients of general congratulations from friends. Interviewed, Viscount Gladstone said that he was completely satisfied with the verdict, particularly with the rider, but the caBO was much too big to talk about.

[Viscount Gladstone's letter, to which tho jury referred, described Captain Wright's book as "garbage" and.tho author as "a liar, coward, and fool. J