GLADSTONE'S REPUTATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19549, 31 January 1927, Page 9

GLADSTONE'S REPUTATION.

ACCUSE;- LIBEL ACTION. PERSISTENCE IN CHARGES. INCIDENT." AT THE HEARING. By Telocrarh—Preas Association—Copyright. (Received Jan. 29. 5.5 ji.m.) / ad N.Z. LONDON. Jan. 28. crowd of celebrities attended Mr. Ji \tice Avory's Court to-day, when the libel action brought by Captain Peter Wright against Viscount Gladstone was continued. Tlio spectators listened with fascination to a verbal duel which went on ..hour after hour between Mr. N. Birkett, K.C., Lord Gladstone's counsel, and Captain W right. Iri tha course of his remarks Captain Wright said: I am afraid soma of my evidence yesterday might have pained Mrs. Lily Langtry, who 'a still living. It is most annoying. T act scarry sb"-u*- it. More than that I cannot say. I would have done anything I could to have avoided it. The Judge:.You do not like reflecting on the living? Captain Wright: Not an a woman. The Judge: You make an exception in the case of a woman ? Captain Wright: About a woman personally. In reply to Mr. Birkett, plaintiff raid: Mv charge against the late Mr. Gladstone primarily was one of hypocrisy—of pretending to be what he was not. Another Gladstone Comes Forward. . Onco when Captain Wright was strongly maintaining a point the Judge said sternly: Do not shout. Keep qui;?t, please. Captain Wright maintained that he had not based his charge specifically on the late Lord Milner's statement while the Supreme War Council was sitting in Paris to the effect that Turkey's changed attitude toward Britain was attributable to Mr. Gladstone's passion for the other'sex. Ho said ho had based it on the totality of the evidence. There, was a tense moment when, Mr. Birkett produced the birth and marriage •certificates of Mr. Cecil Gladstone, of Eastbourne, which showed that ho was the sou -of Mr. William Gladstone, merchant. i Counsel asked Captain Wright if these documents influenced his judgment about the legitimacy of Mr. Cecil Gladstone. Captain Wright: They do and they do not. I cannot say I refute my point of view entirely. Mr. Birkett: Then thesa documents ate falsehoods. Captain Wright: No. I was not aware that William Ewart Gladstone had a first cousin known as William. An Allegation Withdrawn. '* After handing to Captain Wright a qopy of Lodge's Peerage, Mr. Birkett asked: You now say he is the illegitimate son of Mr. W. E. Gladstone! Captain Wright: No. The Judge: Do you withdraw what you said about this certificate ? Captain Wright: Yes, entirely, Mr. Birkett asked whether -Dr. Groatorox had given the names and particulars of the women patients whose acquaintance Mr", Gladstone was alleged to have tried to make in the streets. Captain Wright : That would have been an extraordinary broach of professional etiquette. Mr. Birkett- asked whether plaintiff really believed Mr. Gladstone had altered the policy of Britain because of his solationship with Madam? N ovikoffCaptain Wright: Igo further. I will prove from your own documents that it was also the opinion of Lord Granville, his closest friend. On Slandering the Dead. Mr. Birkett-: Do you think it it cowardice to slander a dead man ? Captain Wright stood back and dangled his monocle. "I must give a long answer, he said. "All history is a register of crimes and follies.. Therefore all history slanders dead men. History cannot bo abolished for the benefit of Gladstone." Tho Judge: That is not an answer to tike question. Will you answer now ? Captain Wright; I do not think it is cowardice if it is historical matter you aio writing. The Judge: Then your answer is no. You think it is not cowardly to frir.rider the dead. Captain Wright mid he was not aware Mr. Gladstone spent considerable sums of money in reclaiming fallen womeit.- If they would produce one or two girls whom Gladstone had ever reclaimed Uc would confess he was wrong. At this stage the case was adjourned until Tuesday.