WRIGHT’S CHARGES

Hokitika Guardian, 31 January 1927, Page 1

WRIGHT’S CHARGES

[Australian & N.Z. Cabin Association. LONDON, January 28. The court wav crowded with celebrities, who listened with fascination to a verbal duel that proceeded hour after hour between Alt' Hirkett, K.C., (\iseoiint Gladstone's counsel) ami Captain Wright in the libel case, ill the course of this Wright said: “l am afraid some of my evidence might have pair cd .Mrs Langtry, who is still alive. 1 is most annoying. More than that, cannot say. L would have done any thing I could to avoid. The Judge: “ You do not like reflect ing on the living? ” Wright : “Not on womens’ The Judge: ‘You make an exeoptio: in the case of women?” Wright: “About a woman personal ly.” Answering Mr Hirkett, he said: “M; charge against Gladstone is primaril; one of hypocrisy—of pretending to b what he was not.” Once, when \\ right was strong!; maintaining a point, the judge sail sternly: “Don’t shout! Keep quie please! ” Wright maintained that he did no base his charge specifically on Lori .Milner's statement (already cabled a to Turkey’s attitude and Gladstone’, love for the fair sex), but on the total ity of evidence. There was a tense moment when M Hirkett produced the birth and marriage certificates of Cecil Glndsonc, o Eastbome, showing that lie is the sol William Gladstone, merchant, and In dien asked Wright: “Do these docu inents influence your judgment abou die legitimacy of Cecil Gladstone?” Wright: “They do and they don’t [ cannot sav they refute my viewpoint.” .Mr Hirkett: “Then those, document: ire falsehoods? ” Answer : “ No ! ” )f William Gladstone, merchant and Ik Wright added that lie was not aware dint Ewart Gladstone had a first cou sin known as William Gladstone. After handing him a copy o - Lodge’s Peerage ” Mr Hirkett askec Wright: “ Do you now say he had r illegitimate son?” Answer: “No.” The Judge: “Do you withdraw wha von said about this certificate?” Wright: “Yes, entirely.” Mr Hirkett asked whether Docto: Jrentorex bad given the names aiu jarticulars of the women patient: whose acquaintance Gladstone was al legeil to have tried to make on file streets.” Wright: “It would have been at extraordinary breach of professiona c* t iquette.” Mr Hirkett asked whether lie reall; believed that Gladstone altered the po I jc-v of England because of his relation ship with Madame Novikoff. Wright: “I go further, and I wil prove it from your own documents This was also the opinion of Lon Granville, his closest friend.” Hirkett: “Do you think it cowardl; to slander a dead mail?” Wright stood back, dangled his moil ocle and said: “I must give a Ion: answer. All history is a register o crimes and follies. Therefore all his tory is slander of dead men. Histor cannot be abolished for the benefit o Gladstone! ” The Judge: “That is no anwsel Will you answer now?” Wright: “Not if it is history maf ter you are writing.” The Judge: “ Then your answer i no! Ido not think it cowardly to slat der the dead.” Wright said that he was not awar that Gladstone spent considerable sun: of money in reclaiming fallen women. “If you produce one or two gir. Gladstone ever reclaimed I will adm that I am wrong.” lie said. The case was adjourned till Tue dav.