PEERESS AND POLICEMAN. A TITLED LADY CHARGED WITH BEING DRUNK.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 7269, 17 October 1891, Page 4

PEERESS AND POLICEMAN. A TITLED LADY CHARGED WITH BEING DRUNK.

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Intoxicated, and did not show the slightest ligDB of having been drinking. Edward Bruet, Dinah Niobolson, and Fanny Henderson, sorranti in the employ of Lady de la Zouobe, •wore to the sobriety of their mistress on the day in question. In reply to the magistrate the defendant, through her solicitor, ©looted to be sworn, and deposed that the had taken no stimulants whatever on the morning in question. Her pony be» came restive and threw her, leaving her hanging by her skirt on the pom* mel of the saddle, She hurt her head aod beoame dazed, She did not know that a brougham was there owing to hor dazed oondition. Mr Hannay said it was clear that some mistake had been made. It was very unlikely that anybody in an intoxicated state would go to ride in Hyde Park, The Bummons would be dis* missed. There wbb applause in court when the decision was Riven.

A cablegram recently niado briof mention of a titled lady being accused of drunkenness. The following fuller particulars are to hand by the mail : Lady de la Zoucbo, of Montagu Street, Portman Square, was summoned by Inspector Hutt, of the A t Division, at Marlborough Street Police Court, on August 5th. for being drunk iu a public place while in charge of a horse. Mr George Lewis, solicitor, appeared for the defence. Constable Eosor, 263 A, said that about halt-pas' 11 o'clock on the morning of the 25th July he heard a whistle blow at Stanhope Gate, Hyde Park. On going there he saw Lady Zouchc clinging to the saddle of a grey pony. She seemed very much dazed, and '•melt strongly of diink. A gatekeeper infoimed him that she had fallen from her horso. The witness took her to St. George's Hospital on the ambulance, os she refused to walk, and she was seon by Mr Drubblo, •he house surgeon, who said that she was drunk. Cross examined by Mr Lew's : Ho came to the conclusion that the li.dy was drunk when ho saw her. When nsked for her name she refused to give it. He did not offer the lady her brougham, but her coachman did. If she had got into her brougham ho (tlio constablo) would have seen hor home himself. At the hospital she gavo her name. Sho did not request to be taken to the police station. He took her there because, as the c^ae had gone so far, he thought it advisable to let his inspector know what had happened, The lady smelt so strongly of drink that lie had to get nway from her a foot or two. She could scarcely stand alone. Ho did not know that she had fiillon on her head and that she was .suffering from slight concussion of the brnin. He was not aware that the lady complained of the conduct of the surgeon at the hospital, and that sho had written a letter of complaint to the committee. He did not know whether the lady was galvanised at the hospital. He believed there was a galvanic battery there. Charles Waterman, the gatekeeper referred to by the constable, said that ho saw the hdy riding a grey pony. The animal was rearing on its hind legs, and she appeared to hold tho reins tightly, and kept on thrashing it between the cars and on its sides. Ho told tho lady to drop tho reins, saying that if sho did bo the animal would keep quiet, She kept on thrashing the animal, which threw her off, leaving hor hanging by her skirt to the pommel of ihe saddle. He went to her assiatantanco blew his whistle, and sent for the ambulance. He should should say that the lady waa suffering from drink, because beforo sho was ilnown she went from ono side to the other. Cross examined by Mi' Lewis : After the accident tho lady was dazed. Tho suck with which the lady beat the horse was similar to the one produced (a light cane). Iu defence, Mr Lewis said that at the time in question Lady de la Zouche whs perfectly sober. She was riding a restive pony, which threw her on hor head When she was taken to the hcpital pho was galvanised, and she had wii tea i\ letter to tho hospital complaining of tho way she had been been treated there. It was a singular fact that his client knew nothing about the summons till after she had mado i complaint to the hospital. Captain Hill Trevor, of the 1st Life Guards, deposed that on the morning in question ho met Lady de la Zouche in Hyde P.irk, and rode with her for nearly two hours. She was then perfec;ly sober, and there was not tho slightest pretence for thinking that she had been drinking. Ho left hor about) 9.50 o'clock, bhe asked him ! to luncb, and ho afterwards saw hor, when she seemed to be very much agitated at the treatment she had received at the hospital, a galvanic battery having been applied to her head. Dr A. W. Addensell, of Ashburn ! Place, Kensington, deposed that shortly after 2 o'clock he saw Lady do la Zoucho at her house. He found her very much agitated, and that the scalp of her head was contused. He ordered her alsoluto resb, and soothing medicines. It would not be proper treat ment for her ladyship to be galvanised after the accident, She was not

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