GLADSTONE'S HONOUR.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 29 January 1927, Page 2

GLADSTONE'S HONOUR.

ASTONISHING EVIDENCE IN LIBEL ACTION (Received Friday, 8.30 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 27. Hearing was continued of Captain Wright’s action for libel against Viscount Gladstone. A feature of the opening day of the case was the astonishing evidence. Under cross-examination, Wright unbiushingiy justified the worst accusations. “I was told,” he said, “26 years ago by Jean Bertrand of Gladstone’s intrigue with the French actress Brassince during her visit to London.” The well-known steeplechase rider, Charley Thompson, who is still alive, told him that Gladstone tried to make the acquaintance of a lady whom Thompson left for a few momenta When he returned Gladstone fled, and the lady told him that Gladstone had been making overtures.

Several times he had heard of Gladstone’s liaison with Laura Bell, and 14 years ago at Eastbourne he saw a man named Cecil Gladstone, whose resemblance to the statesman was unmistakable. “I was told that he was the illegitimate son of Gladstone, but I do not remember the name of my informant.”

Wright said that, when he was 18, he saw a book called “Parson and Painter,” by Rev, Joseph Slapkins, which gave a picture of London’s underworld in 1890, in which was a chapter headed: “We visit Mistress Langtry.” The book contained a Phil May illustration depitcing a mat, standing at the stage door of a theatre carrying a bunch of primroses and exhibiting a very amorous air. The gentleman was certainly meant for Mr. Gladstone.

The judge: Do you seriously say that when you saw that you believed that Lily Langtry was Mr. Gladstone’s mistress ?

Wright insisted that Gladstone was a gross sensualist, though many worse charges had been made against innumerable great men.

He admitted that Viscount Morley described Gladstone’s as the ideal ot married life, but Wright pointed out that a lot of immoral men were happy with their wives.

Wright, the plaintiff, is of medium height with hair turning grey, and the deepest, tired eyes with a monocle with which he never ceased to fidgit while in the box.

Viscount Gladstone, sitting a few feet below the witness box, fixed Wright steadily through horn-rimmed, spectacles with a mild penetrating gaze which hardly wavered.

At least fifty bowigged counsel were* in court apart from those engaged in the case, while a throng of the public was seeking admittance. There was a general belief among the public that the true principle involved in the case was the reputation of the “grand old man,” who was buried 29 years ago. The crowded court was hushed as Wright reeled off famous names such as Lily Langtry, Mrs. O’Shea and Olga Novikoff. LCaptain Peter Wright, in July last, commenced an action against the Bath Club, alleging that he was wrongfully expelled as the result of writing a booh called ‘‘Portraits and Criticisms,' in which there were references to Mr. W. E. Gladstone, to which Viscount Gladstone took the strongest objection. In July, 1925, Viscount Gladstone wrote to the newspapers and described the book as garbage, and the writer as a liar, a coward and a fool. Captain Wright refused to bring a libel action. Viscount Gladstone then wrote to the committee of the club, of which Lord Desburough is chairman, and, as a result, Captain Wright was expelled.]