LIBEL ACTION

Hokitika Guardian, 29 January 1927, Page 2

LIBEL ACTION

[Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.!

LONDON, January 27. Prominent social and political people thronged Ivory’s Court for the opening of the Wright action for libel against Viscount Gladstone, the outcome of the former’s letter to Bath Club (cabled on 13th and 14t;h July last anent Wright’s “ Portraits and Criticism.” given wide prominence on 22ml July. AY right gave evidence that lie believed when he wrote and still believed, the statement about Gladstone was true, that when a seventeen-year-old boy at Harrow, a friend of the family, since dead told him Lily Langtl'.v had boon Gladstone’s mistress. When lie was twenty-one Doctor Greaterex, a prominent London physician since . dead, told him some of his women patients informed him that Gladstone , tried to make their acquaintance in the streets. Ten years ago AValter Alorri- L son mentioned as a fact that Olga Noviilolf. a beautiful Russian, was sent from the Czarist Government in the ’.seventies specially to fascinate Gladstone and became Gladstone’s mistress. AY right added that the present Lord Alalsburv told him a similar story nbout a Russian twelve years ago; also the late Lord Aliiner in the course of a conversation while the European AVar * Council was sitting in Paris attributed Turkey’s changed attitude towards Britain to Gladstone’s passion for the other sex. T

SENSATIONAL EVIDENCE. LONDON. January 27,

A feature of the opening day of the case against AA'right-, was the astonishing evidence. Under cross-examination AY right unblushfngly justified the worst accusation, i was told, lie said, twen-ty-six years ago by Jean Bertrand, of Gladstone’s intrigue with a French actress Brassine, during a visit to London. A well known steeplechase rider, Charley Thompson, still alive, told hint Gladstone tried to make the acquaintance of the lady whom Thompson left for a few minutes. When he returned Gladstone fled and the lady told him , Gladstone had been making overtures several times. He heard of Gladstone’s liason with Laura Bell, fourteen years ago at Eastbourne. He saw a man named Cecil Gladstone, whom the resemblance to the statesman was unmistakable. 1 was told he was the illegitimate son of Gladstone. Do not remember the name of my informant. AA’right- said when lie was eighteen he saw a hooks called “ Parson and Painter.” by Rev. Joseph Slapkins, which gave a picture of London underworld. in which was a chapter headed AYright insisted that Gladstone was a gross sensualist though many worse charges had been made against innumerable great- men. He admitted that*" A'isoount AI or ley described Gladstone’s ideal of married life, hut AA’right- pointed out that a lot of immoral' men were happy with their wives.