WRIGHT LIBEL ACTION

Taranaki Daily News, 1 February 1927, Page 9

WRIGHT LIBEL ACTION

GLADSTONE MALIGNED PLAINTIFF EXAMINED SHARP COMMENT BY JUDGE By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, Jan. 28. The Court was crowded with celebri*. ties, who listened with fascination to the verbal duel, hour after hour, between Mr. Birkett, K.C., Lord Gladstone’s counsel, and Captain 'Vright, in the course of which Wright said: “I am afraid some of my evidence might have pained Mrs. Langtry, who is still alive, it is most .annoying. I am sorry in that connection more than I can say. I would have done anything I could to avoid it.” The Judge: “You do not like reflecting on the living?” Wright: “Not on women.” The Judge: “You make an exception in the ease of women.” Wright: "About a woman personally.” Answering Mr. Birkett, he said: "My charge against Gladstone is primarily of hypocrisy, pretending to be what he was not.” Once when Wright was strongly maintaining a point, the Judge said sternly: “Don’t shout! Keep quiet, please.” Wright maintained that he did not base his charge specifically on Lord Milner’s statement (that Turkey’s changed attitude was due to Mr. Gladstone’s passion for the other sex), but on the totality of evidence. There was a tense moment when Mr. Birkett produced the birth and marriage certificates of Cecil Gladstone, of Eastbourne, showing that he way lhe son of Wm. Gladstone, merchant, ami asked Wright: “Do these documents influence your judgment about the legitimacy of Cecil Gladstone?” Wright: “They do, and they don’t. I can’t say they refute my viewpoint.” Mr. Birkett: "Then these documents are falsehoods?” "No.” Wright added that he was not aware Ewart Gladstone had a first cousin known as William. After handing him a copy of Lodge’s Peerage, Mr. Birkett asked: “You now say he is an illegitimate son?” Wright: “No.” The Judge:: “Do you withdraw,what you said about this certificate?” Wright: "Yes; entirely.” Mr. ’ Birkett asked whether Dr. Grcatorex had given names and particulars of the women patients whoso acquaintance Gladstone was alleged to have tried to make on the streets. Wright: “It would have been an extraordinary breach of professional etiquette.” Mr. Birkett asked whether he really believed that Gladstone altered the policy of England because of his relationship with Madame Novikoff. Wright: “I go further and will prove it from your own documents. This was also the opinion of Lord Granville, hie closest friend.”